Trans temp sender

[turbosax2]

I'm trying to install a temperature sender in my 2g AWD manual transmission. I purchased an adapter to replace the drain plug with that has 1/8" NPT threads, but the temperature sender sticks towards the ground further than I'm comfortable with.

Temperature sender:

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M18x1.5 to 1/8" NPT drain plug adapter:

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Transmission drain location:

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The transmission is in the car and assembled, so I will not drill/tap into the case.

My ideas:
-Drill/tap the stock drain plug to countersink the sender farther into the transmission. I'm not sure how much room I have inside the transmission to go, I'll have to measure this next time I'm at the car.
-A 90 degree adapter of some sort, but I haven't found one suitable. The best I've found so far involves using about 18 different adapters...


Any clever ideas to solve the problem?

 

[91-GS]

Take stock drain plug, drill a hole in it, biggest one you can. Then weld an elbow to the outside of the plug. Weld a nut to the other end of the elbow with correct threads. Now you have a 90 (or a 45) degree fitting. Even then it might stick out further than what you have now.

 

[Blurred Talon]

I'd like to see what you come up with Eric. I want to put one in my car too.

 

[turbosax2]

I'm really hoping I have room to sink the sender farther into the transmission, perhaps by welding a 1/8" NPT bung to the backside of a stock plug and drilling it out. But I'll have to see how much room inside I have to play with...unless somebody with a transmission on the bench wants to check for me

 

[turbosax2]

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Well, sinking it further in the transmission won't help much; the VC is in the way.
Depth from case to VC = 1.0"
Transfer case plug depth (I use this as a trans drain plug) = 0.675"
1/8" NPT adapter plug depth = 0.70"
Sender in adapter plug put in by hand doesn't stick out - its 0.03" inside end. Once this is wrenched down it will stick out a little bit, but I can't sink it down much further without getting really close to the VC.

This will likely be put on the back burner for now so I can get the car running, but I will ponder it on it. Any other suggestions are welcome.

 

[Blurred Talon]

How low will it hang off the transmission Eric?

I've looked at where some people have the sender installed and it's a bit higher up then the drain but only by and inch or two.

 

[turbosax2]

I don't have any pictures or measurements, but by a visual inspection it would be the lowest point on the car. Or at least darn close to it, and I have an RRE bar hanging down there.

I know Scott has his placed in the transmission slightly above the drain plug and towards the engine, but he drilled/tapped a spot where it exits parallel to the ground, keeping it out of harms way. That's an excellent solution if you have the transmission apart.

 

[GRNDSM]

Would you be opposed to removing just the outer cover? I used to do it 2-3 times per race weekend, when I was swapping my VCE in and out .

If you remove it, you should be able to find a spot to drill/tap. Perhaps this wouldn't be as good as installing it deeper in the tranny, but much simpler.

 

[Blurred Talon]

I don't have any pictures or measurements, but by a visual inspection it would be the lowest point on the car. Or at least darn close to it, and I have an RRE bar hanging down there.

I know Scott has his placed in the transmission slightly above the drain plug and towards the engine, but he drilled/tapped a spot where it exits parallel to the ground, keeping it out of harms way. That's an excellent solution if you have the transmission apart.

I was looking at his on the link forums. Looks like he welded a bung in.
I really think that's the best way to go about it personally.

 

[turbosax2]

Would you be opposed to removing just the outer cover? I used to do it 2-3 times per race weekend, when I was swapping my VCE in and out .

If you remove it, you should be able to find a spot to drill/tap. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as good as installing it deeper in the tranny, but much simpler.

It's a thought, but I'd probably just hold off rather than taking the outer cover off.

I was looking at his on the link forums. Looks like he welded a bung in.
I really think that's the best way to go about it personally.

No disagreement here, but I'm not tearing down the transmission any time soon (I hope).

 

[turbosax2]

I buttoned the car up today, so this project is officially on hold for the foreseeable future. Probably until I install a trans oil cooler