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What would be the normal indicated' operating temp on a HK factory temp gauge for a 307 engine which is stock apart from a Holley 600 carb and a plastic multi blade fan. Engine is on coolant (Nulon 4 year) and the cooling system is functioning properly.
At the moment it is reading about 1/3rd scale with the thermostat open which looks to be about 160 degrees F.
The gauge has been overhauled at a VDO shop and I have fitted a new sender or three also have had an auto elec do a resistance chk on the circuit. He blames the gauge and the gauge guy blames the sender, neither of them know what the temp should indicate though.
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quote:
Originally posted by 80569K
What would be the normal indicated operating temp on a HK factory temp gauge for a 307 engine which is stock apart from a Holley 600 carb and a plastic multi blade fan. Engine is on coolant (Nulon 4 year) and the cooling system is functioning properly.
At the moment it is reading about 1/3rd scale with the thermostat open which looks to be about 160 degrees F.
The gauge has been overhauled at a VDO shop and I have fitted a new sender or three also have had an auto elec do a resistance chk on the circuit. He blames the gauge and the gauge guy blames the sender, neither of them know what the temp should indicate though.
Put an autometer gauge in it, at least you wont cook it if it does get hot, hide it under the dash, or put it on the console, the tacho is there, so the temp gauge may as well join it..
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80569 is a 4 door Monaro... well, sort of... yair well then why is it OK in HQ and on then??? (joking) No centre console just a glorious C.O.D front seat. But a swing down autometer gauge below the ashtray might be the go (thankyou we wreck), get a hinge off a fuse box and swing it out of sight for the purists. ps, COD = Come Over Darling, you had to live in the pre seat belt era, just put some polish on her side of the bench seat and hey presto she would slide right on over through the corners. Edited by user Tuesday, 12 May 2009 6:09:34 AM(UTC)
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quote:
Originally posted by 80569K
80569 is a 4 door Monaro... well, sort of... yair well then why is it OK in HQ and on then??? (joking)
No centre console just a glorious C.O.D front seat. But a swing down autometer gauge below the ashtray might be the go (thankyou we wreck), get a hinge off a fuse box and swing it out of sight for the purists.
ps, COD = Come Over Darling, you had to live in the pre seat belt era, just put some polish on her side of the bench seat and hey presto she would slide right on over through the corners.
love ya work...nuffin like a gelati and a good looking babe in the front seat of a Q bird
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The temperature indicated on the guage is a guide and not an absolute, mine sat on half way, no matter the outside temp. When there is a problem the guage will start to rise above "normal" giving you the opportunity to pull over before it reaches a temperature that would bring on a light.
The problem is you have to keep an eye on them, which is why some fit a set of idiot lights as well as guages.
Warren
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Thanks Warren, I like the light idea too. Have a couple of ideas using a small red LED, formulating a plan as we speak.... OK, Im inspired.... Im off to the garage.
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Im with Warren, I also like warning lights for temp & oil to supplement the gauges.
But I dont understand the original post. You say that the temp gauge normally sits on 1/3 scale at 160 degrees (F?). Whats the problem, what do you want it to read ?
Dr Terry |
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Dr Terry, I was asking what should the gauge be reading when this engine is operating at normal temp,
160 degrees F seems a bit low for mine, but Ive been wrong before.
Basically, I wanted to hear from the voices of experience as to what temp you think this engine should run at considering the fan & coolant combination. I have read on this forum and others that you should not run the small block Chev at too low a temp.
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OK, I get you now.
I would run a 82 degree C (180 F) thermostat. I think 160 F is a bit too cool for an SBC. This should make the temp gauge read about half scale.
It should sit there year round, unless you get stuck in traffic on a hot summer day or you are towing.
Dr Terry.
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i got a spare set of flashing lights from my gelati van if they will do you???
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Dr Terry, thankyou and I will give that a go. we wreck, yes but no, and it is a tempting offer... but if I take your lights, how are you gunna get the chicks to come to the van? Edited by user Tuesday, 12 May 2009 9:30:55 PM(UTC)
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haha, mateeeeee, i dunn need the lights mate...they see the gold chains and the gts stripes on the van, and its all over for them..lock up ya daughters my friend..
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My 307 HK ran just under 180 degrees (indicated) for years, except when in heavy traffic when it climbed a lot higher but would come back to just under 180 again when you got moving. 160 degrees is too cold.
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Thanks for the info WY.
Found a high flow (30% more) thermostat on the Tridon part finder website, does anybody have an opinion on these?
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quote:
Originally posted by 80569K
Thanks for the info WY.
Found a high flow (30% more) thermostat on the Tridon part finder website, does anybody have an opinion on these?
ummm, they flow higher i guess???
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and it works a treat too, have also installed a red led warning light in the gauge face. Tried to post a photo but Im having a craft day. Edited by user Wednesday, 20 May 2009 3:08:19 AM(UTC)
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Photo of said LED.  Edited by user Wednesday, 20 May 2009 3:06:00 AM(UTC)
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quote:
Originally posted by 80569K
What would be the normal indicated operating temp on a HK factory temp gauge for a 307 engine which is stock apart from a Holley 600 carb and a plastic multi blade fan. Engine is on coolant (Nulon 4 year) and the cooling system is functioning properly.
At the moment it is reading about 1/3rd scale with the thermostat open which looks to be about 160 degrees F.
The gauge has been overhauled at a VDO shop and I have fitted a new sender or three also have had an auto elec do a resistance chk on the circuit. He blames the gauge and the gauge guy blames the sender, neither of them know what the temp should indicate though.
Hello 80569K, All HK Holden V8 engines had a 195F thermostat. The temperature you mention is too cool for correct ring sealing in the bores. The temperature gauges used in these models were very accurate, hence the markings on the face. Normal running temperature was in the mid-region of the gauge - usually just above the 180F mark. To get the gauge to read correctly you must use the correct sender unit (HK-HQ type). Later cars used a different sender that required a different calibration gauge (HJ-HZ type). If an incorrect mix of sender/gauge is used, the reading on the scale will be meaningless. Check the actual coolant temperature with an infra-red gun to determine what it is and you can go from there. You cannot use any replacement sender units available today and expect an accurate reading on your gauge. You need to check the date code on the sender to determine if it is the correct item. I love your idiot light LED in the gauge face. How do you trigger it and at what temperature does it illuminate? Very good idea. Hope this is of use.
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Hi shifty, thanks for your positive comments. This car did not come with gauges and the cluster is a composite made up of spare parts. The gauge is wired as per the HK wiring diagram and the sender is mounted in the inlet manifold below the thermostat housing (no heater). I installed the stock warning light sender (GMH p/n VS17408) under the L/H exhaust manifold. Power supply to the light comes from the fuse box through the resistor to the led then to the ign switch gnd terminal, then to the sender so when the sender earths the light comes on. And it will test through the gnd on the ign switch on start up. Cant find any info on what temp the sender operates. 3mm red LED from Dick Smith (item #Z4077 costing 20 cents) in series with a .5W resistor. The LED you see in the photo turned out to be a green one (cant tell until it lights up) so Ive now put the DSE solid red one in. Question is, I have a 180F thermo fitted and it is opening at that temp as per the gauge and the top hose. At the moment the gauge is reading just under the 3/4 mark on the scale with the thermostat fully open. I am confident that I have an indication prob and that the car is running as it should, so dunno whether I should be content with that or should I change senders until I get it to sit around 180F or so on the gauge? nah, I will have to fiddle. Edited by user Monday, 25 May 2009 10:04:40 PM(UTC)
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Hello 80569K,
Thanks for the LED warning lamp build-up.
If your gauge is reading higher than the opening temperature of the thermostat, then it sounds like the sender is not matched to the gauge. You could make a mental note of the new 180F mark, however there is that stigma of an operating temperature higher than normal. But it could be the earth circuit of the sender. They say not to use excessive sealant on the threads of a sender unit as it will alter the ohmic value.
Heres one to consider. If the car runs at a higher than normal temperature (particularly at idle), it could be that the radiator has been painted in 2-pack paint. I dont know why, but a radiator painted this way cannot transfer heat to the atmosphere as efficiently as one painted in regular type paint.
Id love to know what you find in what can become a very frustrating search exercise.
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