Temp Gauge Question May 29, 2012, 01:30:52 PM For those of you who have a 5.0 engine and buttstuffog factory gauges, on average, where does the needle point on your temp gauge when your engine is at operating temperature? Smack dab in the middle of the gauge? Does it point at the letter "M"? Where does it point? Just curious. Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #1 – May 29, 2012, 02:07:44 PM On the full buttstuffog cluster, all my cars pointed at about the R.Now on the base cluster with the buttstuffog temp gauge, most cars are correct between the N and O.My old '88 Blue Max V8 with the base cluster would swing all the way up to the red bar as soon as the thermostat opened, and it stayed there while driving.Changed the gauge, sending unit, ignition switch, and IVR. Nothing helped.I suspected a bad wire but never got to change any before selling the car. I have no idea what the deal was with that.But all the way up was the 'norm' for that particular car.You having problems or something? Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #2 – May 29, 2012, 02:13:38 PM Thanks for the info as always Eric. No problems here. I've got a Contour fan and am using a Flex-A-Lite controler to control it. I've been fine-tuning how hot the fan controller let's the engine get before turning on. That's all. The factory buttstuffog gauges on these cars are barely better than idiot lights. That's why I'm gonna install Autometer gauges eventually. Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #3 – May 29, 2012, 02:17:47 PM Ah, good deal and a great solution. Cool! Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #4 – May 29, 2012, 02:27:35 PM Yea. It should work out pretty well. :)Just curious. What's the difference between base cluster gauges and full buttstuffog ones? Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #5 – May 29, 2012, 05:28:59 PM The buttstuffog and base cluster use similar senders. There just a hair better then idiot lights. Eric has info under his 85-88 dash info stuff.How we set it up on my buddies 2.3 mustang when his controller died, he had a double fan. We set one to run continuously, and the other to kick on after about a minute of the thermostat opening.You just want to make sure the computer sees over 180 degrees or it will go limp mode. Ideally I like t run the stock 192 thermostat, pop the radiator cap open and wait for it to fully open. When it does, set the fan to kick on just a bit higher the the thermostat. At freeway speeds and low loads like cruising, most cars with a grill will not kick the fan on unless you get on it or are sitting for a long time. Unless you have a dual rate or dual fans. Then one runs basically with ignition, the other after thermostat opens. Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #6 – June 04, 2012, 12:45:50 AM Get some good gauges! my 86 gauge barely showed off cold, put in an autometer, temp was right where it should be Quote Selected
Temp Gauge Question Reply #7 – June 04, 2012, 01:41:31 AM my guage in my buttstuffog cluster is between N and O. Coincidentally before I did the swap from base it was in the same spot. But due to the letters coming from the opposite end of the guage, that's two very different readings lol. I figure it's safe as long as it's not in the red area.... Quote Selected