C-2 temp gauge ?s

[Philip A.]

My '65 365hp may be running hot. My gauge reads 220 in 70 degree weather and pins at 240 during the summer 80-90s. All cooling system items are functioning, no air lock, and it has a 160 thermostat. It has never overheated/boiled but the car "feels" hot; passenger compartment, fenders, hood. This is my first vette / fiberglass car. Most all driving is local so it is quickly shut down and put away at this point. An infrared thermometer reading of the base of the sending unit shows the gauge to be 40 degrees higher. 1) Is this the correct place to check engine temp? 2) Can the gauge be calibrated; if so how? 3) I am going to have the gauge cluster restored, is this something they can/should handle? Thanks for any and all replies/help.
Phil

[Ronald L.]

Re: C-2 temp gauge ?s

Philip C2 temp gauges are fun. There are a couple very good threads on this, and at least one recent. Within those are some suggestions and links to diagnostics.

If I "assume" what you mean is that the gauge is reading 220 and the actual block temperature at the sending unit point is 180, then yes, sounds like something to be addressed.

If you are not up to ding this yourself, the yes, you can get these two, the gauge and sender, calibrated as a pair so that at the critical range it is pretty close. These are not linear so don't expect it to read 160 at 160.

If after reading through those you have questions, bounce this thread back up.