[ralphedel]

Anyone have a photo of the water temp sender and location on a '77 Spider they can share? Looks to me like it is on the water manifold just above the Spica inlets with 2 spade connectors but I'm not certain. Thanks.

 

[Geoman]

Ralph,

Mine is located where the yellow circle is in the photo. Does the water temp have a sender and a sensor?

 

[ralphedel]

Water temp sender

Thanks for the photo Reed. I'll take a photo of mine tomorrow which is above the location you circled.

I assume the sensor and sender are the same but I'll check the IAP catalog to see what it shows. Also will look at a wiring schematic.

Always something new to learn. My temp gauge is jumping around depending on the engine RPM so something strange is going on for sure. Love those electrical gremlins. Lucas isn't the only "prince of darkness" evidently.

 

[Geoman]

Thanks for the photo Reed. I'll take a photo of mine tomorrow which is above the location you circled.

Ah...if the location you're thinking about is where the larger hex bolt is located in my photo, just above and slightly to the right of the circle, that where a second temp sensor is located that is used only for the distributor to adjust the timing. According to Papajam, this second temp sensor is unique to '77s. Because I switched to an electronic distributor, I simply replaced the screw-in sensor with a bolt from another model year. The bolt now acts as the uppermost bleeder for the coolant system. I have a pic of this sensor installed if you need to see it.

 

[ralphedel]

Temp sensor

The one on top is the one I was looking at. I'll have to poke around for the correct one later and see if it is hooked up. With any luck, a wire is off. That would be nice.

Thanks. Ralph

 

[ralphedel]

Electronic distributor?

What is the story on your electronic distributor? Why, what type, where purchased, etc? Thanks.

 

[Geoman]

Here's a pic of both sensors when I got the car. Yes the whole engine bay was pretty nasty. The PO had no connections to the upper sensor, it was just left as you see it in the photo. So along with the fact that I don't know much about points-type distributors, and that the car wasn't running when I bought it (took about 3 months to get it going), and I wanted to make the air, fuel, and spark systems work as efficiently as I can, I went with the Centerline ID405 dizzy and a new blue Bosch coil. Effectively, I could set it and forget it. Haven't had an issue with it since.