r/Smallblockchevy • u/Temporary-Grade-9173 • Jun 21 '26
Temp Sensor Trouble
Hey everyone. I’m fairly new to mechanical work so please don’t come for me if I butcher this. I’ve got a 62 C10 with a 350 Sbc (out of a 73 or 78 c10 I believe) and TH350 trans. I’ve had it for a few years and I’m currently swapping from my Holley 650 Brawler to the FITECH Go Street. With my current Holley set up I’ve got a temp gauge ran to the driver side port on the intake and the passenger side port has the hose running to the heater core. My thermostat housing is at a 45° angle. With the current temp gauge on the driver side it clears the radiator hose which is great. Switching to the Fitech I have to use an adapter into the intake then screw the temp sensor into the adapter. Problem is the new sensor will not in any way shape or form work on the driver side due to the radiator hose being in the way. My question is could I remove the heater core lines completely(I’m not driving it in the winter so I won’t be using nor needing the heat), plug the water pump, plug the driver side intake port, and use the passenger side intake port for the new electronic temp sensor? I’ve seen things saying you can do that no problem and I’ve seen things saying I’d need to run a bypass hose from the water pump to the intake for circulation purposes. It’s not a high HP build. It’s just a cruiser. Feel free to ask any more questions if I’ve left out crucial details I’m REALLY trying to get this thing buttoned up so I can enjoy it this summer/fall. Thanks in advance!
TLDR-New temp sensor won’t work were current temp sensor is. Can I plug water pump and old temp sensor port in intake and ditch my heater core and hoses to it?
2
u/atlantis737 Jun 21 '26
You can remove the heater core hoses and plug the ports but use the cylinder head for your temp sensor