I'd like to install an aftermarket temperature gauge as a backup to my intermittently-working in-dash gauge (SR5 cluster). My question is, where is the best place on the engine to install the aftermarket sender without eliminating the factory sender? My existing problem is a faulty gauge (and not the factory sender) because a good, hard slap on the underside of the instrument panel will wake the gauge up for a little while.

87 4Runner SR5
22RE
5 spd.

 

well you could tee it off the factory location

 

I thought of that, but was concerned that unless the tee could vent (which wouldn't be a good idea), the sender might be suspended in hot air, and not hot water as it is meant to be, and that may give an incorrect reading. But I could be wrong...

 

you could make a piece. cut top radiator hose in half and fashion a copper union in there with a port for the sender, some guys run like this for an electric fan thermostat no pretty but it works

 

No you cant tee off for a water temp gauge because it wil not flow over the sender

 

You can put it in the upper rad hose:

 

BigBluePile,
Did you build that coupler in your upper radiator hose? What's it made from?

 

You should search. I found this in about 40 seconds:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Water...Q5fAccessories

 

That would do it. Thanks.

 

on the drivers side of the block I believe there is also a coolant drain, but not sure on what effective side of the t-stat it is.

 

I ordered mine thru LCEngineering but you can make your own...or ebay!!

 

You could pick up a t-stat housing from an automatic or turbo truck, it'll have additional threaded holes for senders in it.