I have a '53 with a 8BA, and I am having trouble with mechanical temperature gauges fitting in the head. I've searched for 3 days and found no answers.

I have two standard mechanical water temp gauges from Stewart Warner, which come with a 3/8" pipe thread piece above the temp probe. The 3/8" fitting is not attached to the probe and seems to need screw into a larger adapter to seal.

My heads need a 3/8" fitting, so I either need an adapter that is 3/8" to 3/8" (which doesn't seem to be available) or I don't have the right SW part. Anyone had experience with this? I see a lot of post about people using SW mechanical gauges, so I must be missing something.

Thanks in advance

 

I had this problem on a different Ford engine. Check the S-W webpages, there is a piece you need. Being S-W it ain't cheap considering what it is. As I recall tho, it has a seat that the probe beds against, so it isn't just a pipe connector (3/8 x 3/8 NPT). Here it is; you want P/N 822650D, near the bottom of the page. Seems kind of cheesy they sell them without adapters but they do sell the gauges with adapters for more $$$

Temperature Senders - Stewart Warner

PS - welcome to the forum!

 

Thanks for the info ALBUQ!

As it turns out, that part number is for a temperature sender adapter 1/8" to 3/8".

The mechanical temp gauge adapter is on a different page though. It is a 5/8-18 to 3/8 NPT, with the seat to seal the bulb (probe) to the fitting that comes on the gauge.

Adapter Nuts and Kits - Stewart Warner

Part number <TABLE style="WIDTH: 406px; HEIGHT: 44px" cellSpacing=2 cellPadding=0 width=406 bg************ border=1><TBODY><TR><TD>408550-D</TD><TD>Brass; 5/8"-18 ID to 3/8" NPTF OD</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I ordered two and should be here this weekend, so I can post the results but I am about 80% confident I have what I need.

Thanks again for leading me to the answer!