The OEM and aftermarket equivalent senders will drive the gauge needle no matter the exact thermistor resistance curve. The differences are exactly where the needle ends up at various temps.
You shouldn't install the sender in the intake coolant crossover. Use the LH or, in a pinch, the RH cylinder head TEMP sender location.
The sender should work in the intake crossover but it will not work properly.
Let's back this train up and look at the behavior.
- The gauge nails at HOT when you short the sender wire to ground and drops back to COLD when you remove it from ground. This means the TEMP gauge wiring is A-OK.
- If you want to test the gauge get a 1/2W 100Ω resistor and put it between the TEMP wire connection and ground. This should drive the needle over but roughly near the mid-point... . If it does the gauge works OK.
- The sender body to engine resistance is 0Ω or darn close so you haven't electrically insulated the sensor from the engine.
- At operating temp the engine should be between 190° & 220° so the resistance from the wire tang to the sensor body should VERY ROUGHLY be between 130Ω & 90Ω. If it is then the gauge is probably at fault. If it's not even close... The sender is at fault.
You can download both 1979-1984 parts catalogs from the manuals thread and find the "correct" GM sensor part # for your truck in the illustration book. Either of these sensors will work as long as the threads are the right size for your head or you have a 3/8-18 x 1/2-14 brass bushing.
1979-1980 CK...8993106...1/2-14 threads Coolant TEMP exc. 250 & Diesel
1979-1980 CK...8993164...3/8-18 threads Coolant TEMP 250 & Diesel
8993146 is for 1983 G, 1979-1984 P, and 1982-1984 CK. THIS WILL DRIVE THE GAUGE... if it's working.