I installed dual SPAL electric fans this weekend with a dakota digital fan controller. The car has console gauges that are aftermarket with a mechanical water temp gauge. Without dismantling things I can only use 1 temperature sending unit. So i put in the electrical temp sender and connected it up. I would like to be able to keep using my console water temp gauge. Can i buy a generic electric water temp gauge and connect to the wire the dakota digital unit is using? basically have 2 gauges controlled by 1 temp sending unit?

 

there is a place on each head for your sending unit, and some use the intake also

 

As Flat suggests, use the pass head for the add-on temp probe.
Replace the present OE set-up in drvr head.

 

What you want is a simple circuit to close a relay when a certain ohms is reached. you have to know the ohms at the point you want the fans to kick on..

 

The plug that's in the cylinder head, has a square end on it? between the 2 exhaust ports closest to the firewall? how would i remove this? I've got bigger fish to fry now sadly, think i blew a head gasket.

 

with a 3/8" or 1/2" drive extension and ratchet

 

I prefer having the temperature sending unit in the intake manifold, as that reads more realistic engine coolant temperatures. The heads run hotter than the rest of the engine due to radiant heat of the exhaust, especially with headers, and doesn't reflect what the rest of the engine is doing. Since you want to run 2 separate gauges, I would run one in the intake to monitor engine coolant temperature, and one in a head to monitor head coolant temperature.

 

Thanks all for the advice!

 

with a 160*stat and the sending unit in the head, my gauge shows 160-165*

 

Up to 5 degrees more (in your instance anyway) is still 5 degrees. But why run the engine so cold though? The pistons, rings, and bearings are designed to expand (all at different rates) when they reach running temperature. 160 isn't yet up to the temperature those components were designed to be run at, so running it colder like that can do an engine more harm than good.