Water Temp Sender for V8 Conversion, To drive the original oil temp gauge Options

[DickSteinkamp]

What sender are you non P-motor guys using to use the original oil temp gauge as a water temp gauge? Mine is a Chevy V8 in a 1976 if there is a difference.

I have tried several VDO senders. The closest I can get is their 323-057

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-20876-1566227463.1.jpg)

It is their 0-150C (0-300F) sender. The problem is that it centers the needle at 75C (165F) so at normal operating temps, the needle is about midway to the right of center.

Their 0-120C sender exaggerates this even more. Their 0-200C sender centers the needle, but won't give me much warning if I start to over heat.

[Chris914n6]

Cook the senders at 212f, measure the ohms to find the difference, then add a resister to get close to centered on the gauge.

[DickSteinkamp]

Cook the senders at 212f, measure the ohms to find the difference, then add a resister to get close to centered on the gauge.

Good idea! Thanks!!...but maybe instead of trying to figure out what resistor would do the trick, put a potentiometer in line between the gauge and sending unit and center the needle using the potentiometer when the engine is at operating temp. Does that sound like the same sort of thing?