My temp gauge does not work. But before I go replace the sending unit, I was wondering if even that will fix it. The reason is I'm running a 390 FE in my '61 (223 cyl originally). So I'm wondering if the FE sending unit will work with the factory temp gauge. Or do I get a sending unit for the 223? Or does it matter? I know some aftermarket gauges come with their own sending units, but I'd think the OEM stuff would be pretty standard from year to year. Anyone know?

 

Get the one for the engine if,that doesn't fix it and no other gauges are affected it's wiring.

Brian

 

Take a paper clip and put it in to the connector at the sender then ground the other end the gage should peg if not its not the sensor its the wiring to the gage or the gage. I'd use the one that came in the truck originally that way you know its swing is right, but there not that many anyway so either will work fine.

44

 

The sending unit and the gauge have to match. In other words use the sender that matches the gauge, not the engine. The sender does not care what it is installed in, only what gauge it is activating.

 

Putt, I understand that, I guess I was questioning if the FE 390 sending unit is the same as the 223-6. My guess is that Ford used the same part for many years on different motors, I just don't know if this is the case for these two engines.

 

OK, had to make sure we were on the same page.
You also have to match type of sender. Some trucks used only warning lights, which take a different sender than a gauge does. Your local auto parts should be able to let you know if they match.

 

Yeah. By the way, I called the parts store and the senders are indeed different part nos. Not too surprising, but ya never know. So I'll pick up the 223 sender and stick it in and hope it works. Wiring would be next, which I would not be surprised if it's bad. I have never seen such hard crusty wiring in my life. In fact 5 minutes after I bought it one of the wires from the coil to the dist. broke. Luckily I saw it happen, otherwise I would have spent forever trying to diagnose that one!

 

Did you take 44 dwarf's suggestion and ground the terminal and the sender end? Did the guage peg?

As far as I know, there was never a 61-66 that had "idiot lights" for temp. They had idiot lights for oil pressure and generator/alternator.

Ford definitely did NOT have specially paired sender/guages such that trucks with 223 engines somehow needed a different dash unit and guage. By that I mean, in 1961, the temp guage was the same, no matter what engine was under the hood.

Now, the sender might have varied from engine to engine, based on the thread size and perhaps the length of the "well" on the sender. But in terms of ohms of resistance for a given water temp, they were the same.

Your average monkey at your local parts place will not know this (or much more, aside from how to enter your post 1980 vehicle into the computer). First, test as 44dwarf says. If its the sender, then replace the sender with one that fits a 390.

If it does not peg the temp when grounded, then my approach would be to pull the guage cluster, and short the guage directly to ground -- one of the temp guage leads comes from the CV (constant voltage) that adjusts to 6-8v for dash. The other terminal on the guage is the one you ground. Keep in mind that removing the guage cluster may disrupt the ground -- so you may need to ground to something other than the cluster -- try the dash itself or the steering column.

If that does not cause the guage to peg, and assuming the fuel guage is working, then the guage itself is bad. That's if you tested right.

If the fuel guage is also not working you need to test the CV unit to make sure its still putting out 6-8v.

 

I haven't run the tests yet. Will do it this weekend. Got the sending unit anyway, since I knew it was the wrong app.

 

Good tips on this issue. I having the same issue, the gauge never moves. I'll try the suggestions to track down the problem and let you know how mine turns out.

 

There aren't two different water temp sending units, there are three.

C1TZ-10884-A .. 1961/64 223/262/292.

C3AZ-10884-A .. 1965/66 (before serial # 755,001).

C6DZ-10884-B .. 1966 (after serial #755,001). Also used 1967/69.

Behind the dash cluster on 1961/66's is this: B9MZ-10804-A .. ICVR.

ICVR: Instrument Cluster Voltage Regulator. If this is defective, that affects the temp gauge.

 

Bill beat me to the possiblility it may be the Constant Voltage Regular on the back of the instrument panel. However, if it's defective other metering gauges would be defective; fuel, and oil pressure, etc.