Hey guys, i upgraded my idiot gauges to rally pack. I was wondering if anyone knew the temperature range for the temp gauge? The gauge doesnt go past the first mark. My upper rad hose is 200*. I would think 200 would be normal and the gauge would be in the middle range. Any help would greatly be apprecuated. Thanks

Mike

 

If it's a reproduction gauge, I wouldn't imagine it's calibrated too carefully. If you think you're likely to overheat or you're driving in hot weather (like much of North America right now) or in severe conditions I wouldn't rely on it. Best to get an auxiliary in those cases and keep the rallye pack just for show.

 

Did you put a gauge sending unit in? I believe they're different for idiot lights, but I could be wrong, too......just a thought

 

yes i did replace the sender with the one in the kit

 

i used to have an aux gauge under the hood. It would run around 200. Occasionally get up to around 220.
i was just wondering if the gauge/sender is off or if 200 would be considered cold, seeing as the gauge doesnt make it half way

 

200 is definitely not cold. Most auxiliary gauges that I've had over the years seem to use 180 for an optimal operating temperature. Not saying 200 is too hot, plenty of people here on CO have cars that run around there.

Hopefully somebody on here will have calibrated a reproduction rallye pack and will chime in.

 

I can't provide any possible solution to your issue but here's what I have experienced. I did replace the idiot lights in my '68 4-4-2 with an original gauge pod (had it checked and "serviced" as necessary beforehand) and my '69 4-4-2 had them originally. I upgraded to the correct sending units for the '68 and installed new sending units for the '69. The '68 reads about half way in the temp gauge, which is where I would anticipate it would read, while the '69 has always read about 1/4 of the way up (first mark) with both the old and replacement sending units. It just might be the gauge which I believe is the case with my '69 as I never removed that gauge pod to have it checked/serviced.

Randy C.

 

I would verify wiring at a minimum (make sure things show up on the right contacts)

 

I had a reproduction gauge package in my vista cruiser when it still had the original olds 350 in it. With a gauge sending unit it showed about 1/4 at operating temp (180-190). I ran my car for several years that way. As long as you know what the gauge shows at normal operating temp you should be fine. If you are driving and the gauge shows significantly higher (1/2, etc) than what it runs normally obviously you have a problem and should pull over.

 

Just to rule out a timing issue have you verified your timing setting recently, especially TDC in relation to the balancer?

 

i think im about 10-11* before