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Tue Aug 21, 2018 7:36 am

So this weekend I will be retrofitting a tachometer into my aircooled '82 with a tach from an '88 and the GW PCB kit. I ran the tach signal wire from the ignition coil this past weekend in preparation of the install.

Being as that I am aircooled, the water temp readout is really no use to me and was wondering if I could run something to that gauge to utilize it instead of the needle bouncing around in there like a wet noodle. I would possibly like to monitor the cylinder head temp, but feel like that its not really applicable for that gauge.

Any suggestions? Is it even possible to run anything besides the water temp?

Thoughts?

Tue Aug 21, 2018 8:32 am

I would mod it for something more essential:

Always pegged, of course...

:lol: :wink:

- Dave

Tue Aug 21, 2018 9:46 am

you can screw a H2o temp sensor into the oil base with a T4 sender taco plate..

then the gauge would reflect oil temps.. on a H2o scale. it'll read high. but would offer a reference point..

you could likely bring the needle down the scale alittle with a resistor.. but after that much work some would just opt for a true oil temp gauge.

Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:12 am

dhaavers wrote: I would mod it for something more essential:

Always pegged, of course...

LOVE me a good ole fun-o-meter!!!

Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:33 am

danfromsyr wrote: you can screw a H2o temp sensor into the oil base with a T4 sender taco plate..

then the gauge would reflect oil temps.. on a H2o scale. it'll read high. but would offer a reference point..

you could likely bring the needle down the scale alittle with a resistor.. but after that much work some would just opt for a true oil temp gauge.

Thanks, Dan!

I like maintaining a stock-ish look to the van- so maybe I will try this. When you say oil base you mean on the engine, correct, and not the gauge? and the T4 sender plate being on the back of the gauge itself?

Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:36 am

You'll want the water temp sender from a diesel ('82-'83) or 1.9L WBX ('83-'85).

Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:42 am

the T-IV taco plate is a cover plate on the bottom of the motor.
there is one with a sensor threaded hole.

Tue Aug 21, 2018 10:50 am

danfromsyr wrote: the T-IV taco plate is a cover plate on the bottom of the motor.
there is one with a sensor threaded hole.

Of course- Thanks for the clarification!