1950s Coolant temp sender

[Fitzy]

We are trying to find the correct coolant temp sender for my brother's 52 cadillac series 62.
We purchased one and it maxed out the gauge. We are thinking the sender is for a 12volt system.
Anyone have the part number for the correct sender? Thankyou.

Jason Fitzgerald

[CadillacFanBob]

Part number from a 1954 MPL book

#151-2015 fits 1939 thru 1952

Also used for other GM cars same model years

Here's a link for one for $37.99 plus tax and shipping.

https://www.memotronics.com/gm-temperature-sending-unit-1939-1952-reproduction/

Bob

[Rossoroo]

I had a hard time finding a working one for my 49.
Found one at a wrecker and it worked but would read on the hot side of normal.
I ended up plying around with putting a resistor in between the gauge and sender.
Gauge is now reading normal at normal operating temperature.

[James Landi]

Experience can sometimes be harsh and unforgiving.  In my '56 SDV, the gauge always showed on the 1/4 mark.... in the summer, it would sometimes move toward the center of the gauge.  What I did not know, until several of the exhaust valves burned (and I needed an expensive valve job), was that there were ''hot spots'' in the cylinder head because important cooling passages were clogged rust. While the gauge is important to have, with decades' old cars, an infrared thermometer is an important tool that could save you a pile of money and frustration.