I have an 86 B350 with a 360 motor. Trying to find the location of the coolant sensor, but after days of searching online I can't find anything that shows me where it is at. The temp gauge maxs out as soon as I turn the key in the ignition. Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Far as I know they are always next to the thermostat in the coolant crossover part of the manifold.

 

Ok. Ive seen it then. But, there's two bits there. One has two plastic nipples on it and the other has three. Which one is the correct one? And how the heck am i supposed to be able to get that thing out? Tried getting a wrench in there but there's next to no room.

 

That bit about the plastic nipples confuses me. The temp sensors should have wires connected to them.

 

You might have two temp sensors, one for the gauge, with will be a single wire sensor, and one for the computer, which should be a two wire sensor..... On the magnum motors, one is right next to the thermostat housing, and the other is on the passenger side of the intake, in the front coolant crossover, right near where the heater hose attaches. Being yours is an LA engine...... they may or may not be in the same positions.

 

So it's weird. If I take off the breather, I can kinda see two things in the area next to the thermostat housing. One of them has what looks like three "nipples?" and a rubber boot that goes over it, and the other has two with a similar rubber boot. Looking at coolant sensors online, the bottom part that threads in looks similar to the bottom part of whatever is in next to my thermostat housing. I'll try to get a picture tomorrow, as I know it doesn't really help much.

 

Those are probably vacuum switches.... (of the thermal variety) Temp sensors will only have wires. No vacuum line.

 

So Im fairly certain I found it. But, it looks like the wire has gone missing. By looking at it, it needs a 90 degree rubber boot, but where can I find a replacement wire?

 

If you go to a pick and pull you can cut one out there and splice it into yours.

 

According to Rockauto, this is the temperature sensor pigtail. Does it seem to match what you need?

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...connector,2564