Technical Flathead guys - what for temp gauges?

What setups are you guys using to monitor your engine temp? I have the original senders on my 1952 8BA, but I don't have the gauges. Were there any SW gauges that will work with the stock Ford senders or are you guys using modern senders with an adaptor? And if the latter, two senders and two gauges?

So, what'cha running?

Thanks,
Carl

 

I used two SW senders and two gauges.

 

I am running the stock sender on the right head with the stock gauge and an aftermarket mechanical gauge mounted under the dash on my '51. Kinda a "belt and suspenders" approach. I know the different sides are mostly independent, but this still gives some sense of security.

 

I am using a newer electric Stewart Warner one wire gauge with a sender in each head. I connected the senders to an A-B toggle switch under the dash so I can switch to check both sides.

 

Running 2 electric VDO gauges and senders that go to 220. All the other gauges I found went to 280 degrees so when I was running at 170-185 the gauge needle was just registering. With the VDO gauges the needle is in the middle of the gauge at operating temperature.

 

I found a nice large size SW mechanical
Guage. A proper guage for a 50's old style
Hot rod.

Sent from my SM-J727V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I'm using this nice old gauge in my roadster. Thinking of adding another one for the other side.

 

On my '49 the stock gauge would never read right (at proper operating temp it'd be pegged as if it were over heating). Problem remained even with a new sender.
I got a NOS Stewart Warner mechanical and installed it with an under dash bracket and away we go.

 

Both gauges (one stock, one mechanical add-on) read about the same on my '51. The only difference I have seen is that the stock gauge seems to respond faster. When the stock gauge hits 180, the mechanical is at 160. A couple of minutes later, they are both at 180. Funny, I thought it would be the other way around.

 

Temp gauges ill be running in my roadster. One for each head. 2 5/8 Stewart Warners with new capillary tubes installed

 

I put a bung in the radiator tank and just run a modern electric gauge.....
Phil

 

On my 8ba after years of one gauge, I changed to one in each head, the adapters cost more than the gauges !

 

Stewart Warner mechanical in the cars I've built.

 

two senders one gauge and a spdt switch

 

Use two mechanical gauges. Any brand will do.

 

I have a guage that is two temp gauges in one. Two senders, one gauge
Chappy

 

Awesome advice all - greatly appreciated.

 

I have an Autometer gauge in my cab that monitors the passenger side. I have a Mooneyes direct mount on the drivers side that I put there mostly for show. If one side is significantly hotter than the other one, you've got bigger problems

 

I've got a late '40's Stewart Warner in mine. It only covers the left bank, but I've got room on the other side of the dash and have thought about adding another to the right side.

 

Just on a side note, something I did:
If you put in two, test them in boiling water together, and take note of if they read the same and ‘climb’ at the same rate, otherwise you may forever be thinking that one is reading wrong or differently from the other.