Engine temp sensor

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Before I swapped in my LT1 into my stepside. It was in a Camaro project car so I was using add on guages for the new swap to keep the cost low as reasonable.

Well I put my Stewert Warner temp guage in the cylinder head, and installed a 170* t stat with a pretty big 4 row summit radiator.

The engine runs great, but the guage is always in the 220 range.

Yesterday I was driving it in 90-95* weather 80mph 220*

Traffic stuck in roughly 95* ambient, 220*

Is the temp I am reading because of it being located on the cylinder head?

I know the T stat works because the radiator is cool enough to easily touch with the electric fans going, but warms up quick when I turn them off.

Ideas?

[truckster]

LT1 is a reverse-flow engine. The heads receive the coolant from the radiator first, so they should in theory run much cooler. Do you have a non-contact thermometer?

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by truckster

LT1 is a reverse-flow engine. The heads receive the coolant from the radiator first, so they should in theory run much cooler. Do you have a non-contact thermometer?

Do you mean infrared?

I have one of those from my old job, and didn't think about it.

[truckster]

Get a reading and see if your SW temp gauge is off. It sounds like it might be.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by truckster

Get a reading and see if your SW temp gauge is off. It sounds like it might be.

I spent 15 minutes blowing out the steam lines, and I know I have flow. So when I have a day off again I will verify guage function. I just restarted my new job. So I am not sure of my hours/days I work.