Topic: Shroud and temp gauge issue
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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This 1979 L48 that I bought does'nt have a radiator shroud at all...Will it hurt to drive this way ???? and the temp gauge is non op, any easy way to check to see if it's the sender or gauge at fault???
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Pull the wire off the temp sending unit and ground it with the key on ...if it maxes out the gauge then the fault is in the sending unit...if nothing changes with the gauge then the gauge is at fault or a wiring problem.
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DanT
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
You really should have a shroud on there....the engine temps will get pretty danged hot in the summer without one.
As Dan says, check the temp sender first to make sure it is even plugged in...the connectors sometimes fall off due to age. If it is connected, unplug it, and ground the wire to the engine block(or something that will give a good ground). With the key on, and the sender wire grounded, the gauge should peg HOT. If it does not, there is a problem in the wire to the gauge, the circuit board(on the gauge cluster), or the gauge itself.
As Dan says, check the temp sender first to make sure it is even plugged in...the connectors sometimes fall off due to age. If it is connected, unplug it, and ground the wire to the engine block(or something that will give a good ground). With the key on, and the sender wire grounded, the gauge should peg HOT. If it does not, there is a problem in the wire to the gauge, the circuit board(on the gauge cluster), or the gauge itself.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
You will need the shroud Mine had a shroud that the former owner had hacked up and it was missing the upper half. Car ran at 220-230 continuously in the summer even on the freeway. Replacing the shroud helped a lot but I am now thinking of an electric fan.
C3: 1979 Corvette Coupe, Auto, L-48, Red/Doeskin (my wife's fave);
C4s: 1986 C4 coupe (SCCA road race car), satin black, 4+3, Z51 package, L-98; & 1993 C4 coupe, white, 6-speed, LT-1.
in Forum: C3 Cooling and Heating Systems
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