ALUMINUM WATER PUMP HOUSING

polarus

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Awhile back I purchased an aluminum water pump housing, the problem is the temp sensor is in a different location. Has anybody here drilled and taped one of these to locate the sensor to the stock location? I'm not sure there's enough material to do this safely.
 
Awhile back I purchased an aluminum water pump housing, the problem is the temp sensor is in a different location. Has anybody here drilled and taped one of these to locate the sensor to the stock location? I'm not sure there's enough material to do this safely.

There usually will be extra material to accommodate drill and tapping in a location designed for that purpose. The rest of the casting is usually less than 1/4" thickness, so I would not do it. Especially if the casting is a ChiCom variety, who knows what you will find if you start drilling.

Dave
 
If your using a non original front cover why is original temp sensor location so critical?
I have an NOS harness, the wire wont reach and I don't want to cut and splice. I just got a good deal on the housing so I thought I'd give it a shot. I still have the original cast housing that I can use if the aluminum piece is going to be a pain in the butt.
 
I have an NOS harness, the wire wont reach and I don't want to cut and splice. I just got a good deal on the housing so I thought I'd give it a shot. I still have the original cast housing that I can use if the aluminum piece is going to be a pain in the butt.
Can you use a brass T or some fitting to get it to where you need it or is it to far for that
 
If you still have the plug off of your old harness, cut that off and crimp a couple of spade connectors to the wire ends and use the spade connectors to plug into the new harness. Kind of a Rube Goldberg but you do no have to splice the new harness that way.

Dave
 
Too far apart, it really comes down to do I sell the aluminum and go with the somewhat crappy looking original? Or drill and hope for the best?
 
If you still have the plug off of your old harness, cut that off and crimp a couple of spade connectors to the wire ends and use the spade connectors to plug into the new harness. Kind of a Rube Goldberg but you do no have to splice the new harness that way.

Dave
Thanks Dave but the original harness is missing the connector. I was hoping somebody had already done this, guess I'll go first!
 
I have one of those aluminum housings, very similar to yours, and I DON'T recommend drilling it, or even the cast iron housings Ma Par provided us with originally. DRILL AND TAP THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING INSTEAD! Some are made for that option. Some so made have been drilled and tapped for sensors or an extra 3/8" NPT fitting. Google for them. They're likely sino-potmetal crap aluminum too, but they're cheap to experiment with.
 
Hey Gerald, did you use a sealant when installing the steel fittings to the aluminum water pump housing? If so, what type of sealant did you use?
 
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