temp/pressure senders?

Hey guys,

What temperature and oil pressure senders will operate the 944 gauges with my LS1 swap? I'm assuming I need VDO senders but there are several different types with different temp, pressure and ohm ratings.



Thanks!

Ok after sifting through numerous posts I've discovered that this adapter [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] coupled with this sender [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] should replace the stock LS1 oil pressure sender located at the back of the block.

This coolant temp sensor looks like a direct fit:
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It's 50* off at max, not a big deal, it's not like the 944 temp gauge is numbered anyway.

Any comments?

There's a VDO sender that has an adapter that fits the passenger side head. It is somewhere in these threads. That way you can just take out the bolt towards the rear of the head.

Do you know which sender and adapter will work? Any reason I shouldn't use the one listed above?

By searching numerous threads, I've read about all sorts of fixes from using the '83 944 sender, to tapping holes, to milling parts, to in-line adapters. There does not seem to be a definitive conclusion in any of these threads. The only thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the hole at the back of the head has a M12 1.5 thread pitch.

I'm using VDO-360009 for the oil pressure sender, mounted on my remote oil filter housing... and the early 944 coolant sensor (047-919-501A-M82) on the passenger side head. Both seem to work fine with the stock gauges.

So the early 944 temp sensor is a direct swap with no adapters needed? I don't remember what the early connector looks like but I think I have an early harness laying around that I can swipe the connector from. Although, if I recall correctly, it's just a spade terminal right?

It needs an adapter, I got one from speedway..

I picked up an early (83-85) 944 temp sensor this morning, it is a direct fit in the cylinder head of the LS1. The only problem is that I don't have a pigtail for the sensor.

Here are a few pictures.


This is the 83-85 944 temp sensor located in the M12-1.5 provision on the LS1 passenger side cylinder head.
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I happened to have a M16-1.5 to 1/4 NPT adapter and crush washer in my collection of odds and ends. The oil pressure sender VDO #360009 is on it's way, but for now here is a picture of the adapter installed at the back of the block.
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Found a pigtail!

NAPA part number CRB 218545
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Temp sensor:
Napa part number ECH TS5520 or MPE TS5520SB
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I'm assuming that there is no difference in function between the two temp sensors listed and that one is more expensive simply because it has a 3 year warranty.

That looks like the DME temp sensor, not the sender for the gauge. The early temp sender is the part number that I posted.

Damn it! I thought I had it all figured out! Thanks for setting me straight, that's partly why I'm a habitual picture poster.

I was pretty sure the temp sender had a spade terminal but I've only had one early 944 and I couldn't remember exactly what the part looks like, I just took what the guy at the parts counter gave me.

That is the wrong temp sender. Will not work with the gauges. You will need to drill and tap out the hole in the rear side of the passenger head. Or the water pump where ever you can find a clear spot.
No Autometer adapters will work with the sending unit for the temp gauge. The hole in the adapter is to small! Not sure why they even make them.

I drilled my adapter out to make it work with the VDO sender and it worked well. I am not sure if it was the autometer adapter or one I got from Speedway. Either way one of them cracked and the other one that was more beefy worked.

I too drilled out an autometer adapter and used VDO sender 323095.

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Rich

This is what I have.. I think I used the autometer 2277 adapter and tapped it for the 944 sender.

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Thanks guys!

I took the DME sender back, fortunately I hadn't torqued it down. I ordered the Autometer M12-1.5 to 1/8 NPT adapter #2277 along with the VDO sender #323095. I'd rather drill out an adapter than tap the head.

I've also discovered that I should post questions on a Monday. It seems that we have alot of people slacking off at work around here. There should be a 944hybrids facebook page, then I'll never get anything done!

If you decide to drill the adapter out, be very careful when you install it. To get the sender into the adapter, when you drill it out the thread area gets really thin and can break very easily.

ALFAPU wrote:It seems that we have alot of people slacking off at work around here.

I resemble that remark!

Rich

Admin wrote:If you decide to drill the adapter out, be very careful when you install it. To get the sender into the adapter, when you drill it out the thread area gets really thin and can break very easily.

If you use the 83 944 sender then you don't need to drill through and compromise the threads.. it doesn't have the long probe like the VDO sender. Honestly I don't even remember having to drill the adapter, I think the 1/8-npt was close enough in size that it just sealed with the thread taper and some teflon tape.

The reason for the long probe on the sending unit is to get the thing down into the coolant. Otherwise you have an air gap in the tube which works fine for a pressure sender but not so well for temp. You are then relying upon the head heating the adapter which then heats the sender but all this is affected by the proximity of the exhaust runner.

That's why I used the 323095 sender and drilled the adapter, to get the probe got down to the end and hopefully into the coolant flow. But not too far or it'll impede the coolant passage. I was able to drill the adapter from the non-threaded end so as to not screw up the inner 1/8" NPT threads. But Admin's advice stands as enlarging the inner hole will weaken the M12x1.5 outer threads.

Another comment, none of my SAE drill bits were perfect for this. One of them was slightly too small for the VDO sender and the next larger was so bit it would have destroyed the adapter. So I spent a bunch of time with a dremmel and a little bit hogging out the hole so it was just large enough for the sender. I'm sure there's a perfect metric bit, I just didn't go shopping to find it.

Rich

I have every size drill bit, fractional, decimal, numbered, lettered and metric. I sure hope I've got one that works.

If the wall of the adapter gets too thin, then I'll be the guinea pig and try the VDO #323092. I like the idea of having the probe in the coolant flow and the 323092 will thread right in without an adapter. As mentioned I don't mind the sender being 50* off at max because there are no temperature markings on the 944 gauge and I just want a visual reference on temp. If I get really anal about coolant temp then I'll install an aftermarket gauge. I'm just weird in that I like to have everything functional or I remove it, I'm even swapping out the tachometer for an NA just to get rid of the useless boost gauge.

I see your point Rich... makes sense in theory, but on my car this setup is working as it should and was recommended by Eric.

Right on! That's all you need. Mine's working too.

Rich