67 Healey 3000 MKIII BJ8

[RichardOlyn]

I recently acquired a frame off restoration of a 67 Austin Healey BJ8 and the water temp gauge does not move. I had the gauge replaced once already and determined that the old gauge was not working and I checked the new gauge out by inserting the sensor into a pan of water on the stove and watched as it slowly rose to 212 degrees and stayed there as the water boiled. However, once placed into the car, either the car runs cold or something else is going on here. I checked the thermostat and it is a 160 degree model and the engine runs just below 160 as I use a infra-red heat sensor on the block and the radiator is always below 160. Is the thermostat not opening - thus the lack of reading? Still why does the gauge not at least read at 140-150 degrees with the car running? Baffled here and if anyone can explain this - let me know your thoughts!

 

[Brinkerhoff]

It sounds like its working properly but the gauge is probably accurate at 212 , not so much at 140. Does the sensor protrude into the cylinder head enough to be immersed in coolant?

 

[RichardOlyn]

It sounds like its working properly but the gauge is probably accurate at 212 , not so much at 140. Does the sensor protrude into the cylinder head enough to be immersed in coolant?

I believe it does. When I looked at the thermostat I could clearly see the sensor below it. The gauge does not even read 140, barely moves if anything at all and I know the engine is at close to 160 per the IR sensor.