Drilling a edelbrock performer intake for water temp sensor

[44boggers]

Hey guys,

quick question. I was planning on drilling and tapping the unused provision on the front of my edelbrock rom performer intake for an additional water temp sensor. but looking closer at it, it seems that the provision on the front of the intake is a blind hole, meaning if i drill and tap it it does not open up to the water flow, it seems like it is simply there to drill and tap to put a bolt in to hold something down. Am i missing something? Or is that provision not for a water temp sensor?

You can see in the pic attached, it is the provision left of the thermostat housing hole, there is a small indent already.

Thanks

Paul

[Bent77]

I've done this. You should be able to verify it will land in the water jacket by feeling in through the t stat hole

Make sure you use the correct bit for the NPT tap size

[mongocanfly]

additional temp sensor?....stick your finger in the thermostat hole and see if you can feel all the way to that spot...there should also be spots on the heads for sender locations

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

additional temp sensor?....stick your finger in the thermostat hole and see if you can feel all the way to that spot...there should also be spots on the heads for sender locations

Yeah that’s what I’m saying. I can’t feel a passage going to that provision from inside the thermo housing hole.

So if that’s not for a water passage then what is that provision for?
I need the second sensor for my fuel injection and Dakota digital gauges.

I don’t want to put it in the head cause the wire will hit my header

[Dead Parrot]

Put a T fitting in the hole for the heater hose output. Add the 2nd temp sensor there.

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

Put a T fitting in the hole for the heater hose output. Add the 2nd temp sensor there.

If i can make it look good that is an option, I am doing a full resto so i want to keep it as clean as possible. that is why i was hoping that provision was for a water related part. Ill check it out more tomorrow, maybe I am missing the isomething

[Bent77]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

If i can make it look good that is an option, I am doing a full resto so i want to keep it as clean as possible. that is why i was hoping that provision was for a water related part. Ill check it out more tomorrow, maybe I am missing the isomething

Worst case, check it a bit with the length of your finger and measure it back.

Maybe drill with a small bit so that you can make sure it pilots to where you want, or easy to plug otherwise

Like I said, I've done it, drilled and tapped for the CTS to run a Holley Sniper EFI.


Good luck

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by Bent77

Worst case, check it a bit with the length of your finger and measure it back.

Maybe drill with a small bit so that you can make sure it pilots to where you want, or easy to plug otherwise

Like I said, I've done it, drilled and tapped for the CTS to run a Holley Sniper EFI.


Good luck

Yeah ill check it out tomorrow and let you know what I find. Do you remember when you drilled yours if you could feel the opening from inside? Or did you just drill away and it worked?

[44boggers]

I just went out an checked, its kind of hard to say but it seems like i have around 1.5 cm of a difference from when i measure from the middle of the provision to the edge of the thermo housing hole compared to when i measure from the inside of the thermo hole to the wall of the intake. So it could be that I have the room. What I am going to do is like you said, drill a pilot hole and see where it lands. If it looks good then drill away for 1/2" npt, if not then I will drill for 1/4" npt and plug it. But then again I will only drill about 3/4" of an inch down anyway , so if there is nothing on the other side its just an open blind hole.

Ill let you know

Thanks

Paul

[Bent77]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

Yeah ill check it out tomorrow and let you know what I find. Do you remember when you drilled yours if you could feel the opening from inside? Or did you just drill away and it worked?

I was pretty committed


At the time I was using 462 casting heads, and there were no options for using the head port. In I went, knowing I would just plug it if it wasn't what I wanted



Having said that, some patience and discretion should lead you. But I suspect all will be fine

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by Bent77

I was pretty committed


At the time I was using 462 casting heads, and there were no options for using the head port. In I went, knowing I would just plug it if it wasn't what I wanted



Having said that, some patience and discretion should lead you. But I suspect all will be fine

Generally I work in the same matter as you, but im trying to change my ways and actually plan ahead.

Ill keep you updated.

[Bent77]

Originally Posted by 44boggers

Generally I work in the same matter as you, but im trying to change my ways and actually plan ahead.

Ill keep you updated.

So since the cat is out of the bag, are we talking about fuel injection too?

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by Bent77

So since the cat is out of the bag, are we talking about fuel injection too?

I already have a FITECH system but I need the other port for my dakota digital gauges.

[Bent77]

looking pretty good so far

[sweetk30]

i am ready to do the extra port for the aftermarket sender i am installing for gauges aspr the owners requested location . the other port on the left will be for the electric fan switch spot .

glad to have found this thread .

[44boggers]

Well it works. you just go a little bit into the wall of the intake but there is plenty of meat there. Thanks for the responses.

[geezer#99]

Whilst you was drillin’n and tap’n what did you do to stop the tiny aluminum pieces from dropping down into the head?

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Whilst you was drillin’n and tap’n what did you do to stop the tiny aluminum pieces from dropping down into the head?

Na. I figured it gave my water pump something to work against
But yes. I had a vacuum stuck in the thermo housing hole. I’m confident it picked up all the pieces

[geezer#99]

Vacuum works.
As does heavy grease on the drill bit or tap.

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

Vacuum works.
As does heavy grease on the drill bit or tap.

FOr sure. I used only on the tap which made most of the excess stick to the tap

[weq92f]

.
Just curious, would you have considered a thermostat housing sensor mount such as this if there were no provision to drill?

-klb

[44boggers]

Originally Posted by weq92f

.
Just curious, would you have considered a thermostat housing sensor mount such as this if there were no provision to drill?

-klb

Never seen that before actually. Yeah I probably wood as long as the thermostat would sit on top of that spacer and not below it or else the sensor would not get a reading it is the thermo opened up

[weq92f]

.
They're made both ways. Can use as a bypass too.

-klb