What is the proper spot to measure coolant temp if you dont have a temp port in the head? Is the PCM coolant temp sender on the waterpump give the same reading as an autometer gauge?

 

You can use the water pump if you want. Though there are ports in the head you can use.

 

I have brodix heads, any ideas? I don't think the head had any threaded holes. The waterpump should give an accurate reading? Does the autometer coolant gauge understand the same resistance readings as the stock GM sensor? My dash was replaced with auto meter gauges so I need some sort of accurate reading.

 

I added a second temp sensor in the return line from the back of the heads. Seems to track the water pump sensor fairly well.

http://www.injuneer.com/images/photo.../DCP02655a.jpg

 

No port in the back of the head either I do have a port on the intake with coolant maybe I could use that?

 

Is this an LT1?

Have you considered have a port dilled and tapped in the head for it?

 

It's an LT1 block but nothing else. I should have had the port drilled and tapped before I installed the heads but it's a bit late for that.

 

Not a good idea to run a head on an LT1 without the "steam line" connected to the back of the heads. With the reverse flow cooling of the LT1 block, there is no way for air and steam to get out of the back of the heads. Without the steam line, you run the risk of running hot on #7 and #8, with the risk of detonation. You may have to "detune" the engine, giving up HP to avoid detonation on the rear cylinders.

 

Why can't I use the two ports on the back on the intake for steam? The two ports on the back are in the same spot as the ones on the front. Also are my coolant hoses hooked up correctly??

 

any ideas?

 

What coolant ports in the intake? The LT1 doesn't flow coolant through the intake.

Are you connecting the pump suction and the coolant return to the same end tank? Does it have a baffle in the tank to prevent the return from flowing directly to the suction, and to force the coolant through the tubes?

 

The heads aren't LT1 they are the 18* brodix. Yes, the coolant flow is forced through the upper half then loops around the bottom half. I heard it's efficient for being such a small radiator. See the two ports in the back that go to the coolant port on the back of the head? It seems as though that would be equivalent of a steam port but I wanted to check and see.

 

Injuneer,

I'm pretty sure I can just use the two ports on the intake as the steam ports and tee a temp sensor on one of them. Do you see any flaws in this?

 

Since you've obviously done some custom work, and you have verified that you have coolant flow to the manifold, it would appear to work. There is no way anyone other than yourself could make that call, without knowing the details of how you did your head conversion.

 

I think the coolant flow to the manifold is standard on SBC motors and intakes. They have those ports in the b'ack so they can pull coolant from them to run to the front. Brodix calls it "4 corner cooling" and it's so the front cylinders don't heat up. Obviously this isn't the same story on an LT1 because its reverse cooling. However, yes the back ports have coolant access and based on what you've told me i can safely use those as steam ports and measure coolant temp.