charmcityrambler Posted May 14, 2023 Share Posted May 14, 2023 I failed at swapping my ding light gauge cluster for a real one today. I got it off ebay, supposedly from an 86 cherokee with the 2.8L and everything worked on the bench with a resistor box and dc power supply. Install seemed to go very smoothly* except for the fact that my temp sensing unit doesn't seem to match up. I thought I read all of the forums very carefully, looked through the write ups master list, and they all said "get the part for your year with gauges". So I ordered the part rockauto had listed as "WITH GAUGE" for the 2.8. So I think it's obvious, but the top sender is what I ordered (TS268) and the bottom one is what I took out. They're very different sizes and I'm also confused by the fact that one that was on the truck already used a spade connector instead of the 'boot' like every other sensor shows... I checked the electrical manual and it shows the wire for the coolant sensor coming to the same spot where I pulled that thick guy from - the drawing also shows a spade connector so I think I'm on the right track? Does anyone know what the part number for the big boy is and/or why mine seems to be different? * - I say "very smoothly" like I didn't snap off the PRNDL indicator tab on the 3sp column shifter... anyone know if I can order that or do I have to make one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmcityrambler Posted May 14, 2023 Author Share Posted May 14, 2023 So I'm not sure if there's a bug related to having multiple tabs open or I'm just stupid, but this is the second time this has happened: I thought I started this post in the "Modification and Repairs" forum but here it is in the wrong place... is there a way to move it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 I'm going through the same thing myself.i think most catalogs list the 4.0 sending unit instead since the 2.8 was the first and only available in 86.i have been toying with idea trying to find an adapter to use the 4.0 sending unit in the 2.8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 Guys. What about an S10? AMC bought the 2.8L from GM. I imagine the market is flooded with a cheap version of a gauge sensor for coolant and oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 i thought about ordering the gauge sending unit for an 86 s10 or sblazer but i havent yet.i wasnt sure if the resistance for the sensors would be the same.my cluster came out of a 4.0 jeep and don't know if the 2.8 cluster needs a different resistance switch to read correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 I am sure they are the same. I can't see AMC spending money to have a different sensor with different values when you can just have the gauge read the same as GM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmcityrambler Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 @eaglescout526 that S10 sensor "with gauge" is looking *very* close to what I pulled, thanks for the suggestion. I'm going to try and pick one up tomorrow and see how it goes. We might have to amend your "1984-6 gotchas" page if it works :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 No problem! If all goes well, I can do that. I didn’t note anything related to the 2.8L on that page as those seem to get chucked faster than the 2.5L, so I left their oddities out. Plus if it’s a GM product, there’s a metric ton of parts for it out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmcityrambler Posted May 15, 2023 Author Share Posted May 15, 2023 8 minutes ago, eaglescout526 said: ... those seem to get chucked faster than the 2.5L ... after eyeing the absolutely atrocious rube goldberg the 2.8 calls a "carburetor" while doing the gauge swap yesterday.... I can't say I'm not tempted lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 i replaced mine with a weber carb kit but truthfully i am less than impressed wth it.but i havent had time to really adjust on it yet either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 Ive heard the 3.4L FI or better carb set up is the way to go for direct bolt in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ratrapp Posted May 15, 2023 Share Posted May 15, 2023 i didnt know of any carbs but the factory or the weber kit.i would gladly adapt something else or if could find one of the older 4 barrel intakes i would put one of my spare holley sniper kits on it.i can't find any 4 barrel manifolds anywhere.i know they discontinued them several years ago at edelbrock and probably don't blame them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The86manche Posted May 16, 2023 Share Posted May 16, 2023 3 hours ago, ratrapp said: i didnt know of any carbs but the factory or the weber kit.i would gladly adapt something else or if could find one of the older 4 barrel intakes i would put one of my spare holley sniper kits on it.i can't find any 4 barrel manifolds anywhere.i know they discontinued them several years ago at edelbrock and probably don't blame them. If you know your way around wiring you could do a stand alone efi setup out of a 60 degree v6 i.e. 2.8, 3.1, 3.4. Pull harness, efi intake and associated pieces and adapt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charmcityrambler Posted May 16, 2023 Author Share Posted May 16, 2023 So long story short: I ordered the S10 part (Duralast TU66) and it seems to work now. I had a mild panic when I got the box home and it said "Temperature switch" but I double checked the website and it clearly said "with gauges" so... okay? I did ohm it out and it was not zero or open, and the number went down when I heated it up so it seemed okay. It installed fine and, after warming up the engine, the gauge matched the thermocouple on my multimeter so I think we're good to go! Thanks @eaglescout526 for the tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eaglescout526 Posted May 17, 2023 Share Posted May 17, 2023 Woohoo no problem! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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