i picked up a nice autometer water temp gauge for cheap so i figured I would use it. Ive read there is another port on the passenger side head between cylinders 6 and 8 where i can put the sending unit. my question is, is this a good place to mount it? id like an accurate reading of the temperature... Also will I need to drain the coolant to do this? thanks

 

That is about the only place to do it. Impala 's with the lt1 run their temp sensor there. That plug needs a special socket with the male part being 5/16. I ordered it from the local independent tool supplier. I am running stock temp gauge on driver's side and aftermarket water temp on pass side. People said the head plug was going to be tough to get out. It was out in 2 seconds. Just used a torque bar.
Oh and yes coolant will drain out when you pull the plug.
Good luck
Brandon
95 Impala SS with f-body Lt1

 

do your gauges read different temps being that the sensors are in different locations? i take it that 5/16 part is not what came in the package? And will i need to bleed it after i install the sending unit? thanks!

 

The 5/16 part is a tool to remove the existing plug in the head. You will need to partial drain your coolant, then refill and bleed when you're done. Since both sensors are mounted in the heads, the temps should be the same other than any accuracy differences in the gauges. The PCM takes the coolant temp from a sensor located in the waterpump. My ScanMaster reads that value and displays water temp digitally; it's value tracks well with my stock temp gauge.

 

I spliced a brass "tee" into the the line that returns the coolant from the back of the heads. Its not for a gauge, but for a second computer. Your 95 has a slightly different routing on the line from the back of the heads, but it might be worth looking into.

 

I really like the idea of positioning the sensor in the line that returns the coolant. Where did you get the parts for that and what is it called? Just want to explore my options.

 

bump. i might tackle this tonight

 

I thought I aswered this.... but don't see it. Everything there is available in a hardware store/plumbing dept. You get a brass tee that matches the diameter/threads of the coolant temp sensor. Then use barbed hose adapters to match the female threads on the tee to the inside diameter of the hose. Use teflon tape on all the threads.

I did that about 7 years ago, so I can't remember the specific sizes or parts. Note that there is also an extra inlet air temp sensor in the airbox, to feed the second computer.

Keep in mind that only the 93/94 engine will have the back of head return line routed like mine is. On the 95-97 engines, the line goes to the throttle body first.