VW Oil Temp Sending unit

[alphacrimedog]

VW makes an oil temp sending unit that screws into the drain plug. It has a terminal on the end of it to hook the wire of the gauge to. Does anyone know if this will work on a 914?

[alphacrimedog]

Actually its a VDO unit made to fit the VW .

[tryan]

as long as the sending unit and gage are a matched set.

[HMeeder]

I researched this a few months ago. The unit you are looking at will fit into a VW Type 1 motor (14mm at 1.5 pitch) The drain plug for the type IV is a different size and pitch (I think 13mm at 1.25 pitch.) Check it out, you'll see that I speak the truth.

[alphacrimedog]

I knew it couldnt be that easy.

[Zeke]

By the very idea of it screwing into the drain plug hole would make me think it would be rather vulneable to being knocked off and you loosing all your oil, or maybe breaking your case.

Be patient, I will have an aluminum sump plate available soon that will take senders in different threads and be tucked up out of the way. And a billet clutch pulley wheel is coming too.

[maf 914]

Milt, Good to hear about your planned sump plate and clutch pulley. I intend to add some gauges, including oil temp, and would be interested in the plate. I am curious about the billet pulley. I read the previous thread where this was discussed, but I have no experience with non-stock pulleys. What is the advantage? Can the clutch action be improved noticably with this?

Thanks,
Mike

[Zeke]

I don't think the pulley will offer any performance over the stock. As I understand it, the stock one can break, especially with a heavy clutch. What is offered is reliability. Some poeple have sugested a bearing installed in the center. IMO, for something that turns a quarter turn, this is a bit much.

There are purportedly other on the market now. I hear Patrick racing has one and Brad Roberts has told me he can get them. Nevertheless, I intend to make my own and will offer them to others when available. There is no sense in making just one of anything. I am not trying to make a full time business out of this. Just a hobby that will place a few good parts in the hands of people who need them.

Back to the plate. I don't care if someone comes up with a better plate before I do. We all benefit either way. The thing is, the stock plates for the sender are in short supply and use only the metric threaded sender. A better, stronger plate threaded to SAE or metric, depending on the individual needs, is an idea that has to be realized. It takes time to prototype the item. I haven't decided yet weather to cast them and then machine them, or to TIG weld up a billet design. The main thing is that the sender has to be mounted out of harm's way. Any thoughts are welcome.

[maf 914]

Milt,

Thanks for the background on the pulley. If the normal movement is only 1/4 turn, what does the bearing surface of the orignal plastic pulley look like after 25-30 years?

Mike

[Zeke]

Your point is taken. If I can find a bearing w/ the correct I.D., I'll consider using them in the design