is there an aftermarket sending unit that
will work with the factory gauge?
thread size is not important.

you have to use the correct sending unit, there is no "universal" sending unit due to the different ranges (resistance) of the gages

I think the normal parts pushers have the sending unit for $14 or so.........

Probably a better option is to get a new VDO gauge ("cockpit" series) + sender. The stock non-numbered "mystery gauges" were probably not very accurate even 30 years ago and sure don't tell ya much...

Chris is right....the old un numbered ones sucked in the 70s and the age has not made them un suck.....

With guitars, 30 years is good, 50 is better... obviously, I should stick with guitars.




M

VDO gauge ("cockpit" series) + sender

do these gauges look like the original?

Yup....but they actually work. BTW...they are slightly smaller but they supply a reducer ring.

I see some temp guages are for the heads and some for the oil.
Where would one put the oil temp sending unit on a 1.7?
If I remove the sending unit from my head to attempt to calibrate it, should it go back in with some sort of non hardening sealant to displace the air?
Can I buy a sending unit that will work with the new (to me but old)consol gauge that I bought a few months ago?
Tx
Doug

Stock ones use a sender that is under the engine....aftermarket ones use dip stick senders. Oil Pressure senders tee off the sender for the idiot light. Head temps usually have a ring around a spark plug.....

Replace the drain plug with a VDO 323-055 sender.

You don't need the drain plug. You want to clean the screen when you change the oil anyway...

Prior Discussion right here on 914world.com

I replaced my old console gauges with , VDO Oil temp used orginal taco plate location for sender,Oil pressure gauge, and voltage . got every thing from The Bird . It was the best investment i have ever made,( for piece of mind). Do it you won't regret it!!
Dave

Hey does the oil temp sender for the 1.7 work on a 2.0?
Also is there a test to see if the oil temp sender is functioning?

Thanks!!!

This is not a close-up but shows what the new gauge mentioned above looks like when installed in the stock 73 center console..

Since I sold my old console with the VDOs I replaced them all with the Mallory cheap gauges that look like the AutoMeter Sport-Comp gauges. I found that the Mallory sender screwed right in where the stock one went (10mm is real close to 1/4" NPT ?). The stock one worked but read a little low. Who cares? It's all relative. left side is cold motor. Somewhere in the middle is a happy motor. All the way to the right is good reason to come in for a landing.