So I have a digital dash in my Blazer and it doesn't work (seems like nobody's does) and I'd like to be able to see the temp of the engine. I have an electrical temp gauge that i tried connecting to the temp sending unit, via just connecting the 2 green wires together, and placing the positive and negative on the battery to get power. To my surprise this didnt work. Is there something I have to do to get the signal from the temp sender to the gauge?

The gauge only has three wires, data, power, ground. Why didn't a reading come out??

 

Sending units are set for the gauges they are made for. If you tried using the stock sending unit I'm sorry but it's not going to work with a standard gauge .....

 

Would I possibly be able to buy a sending unit that's compatible with my gauge??

 

Depending on the brand of the gauge, Summit is one place that does carry sending units for some brands ....

 

That's the gauge I'm trying to install
Am I just gonna have to buy a mechanical gauge?

 

You can use elect gauges. I have all elect gauges in my Morf

. It's usually cheaper to buy a gauge/ sender as a set rather than just buying sending units for a old gauge that you have laying around ....

 

Would you suggest getting a mechanical gauge kit from autozone that I could adapt to the block? Just buying necessary gauges as I see fit?

 

My Morf was 1992 Jimmy running gear with a 86 RX7 body so even if the old crap digital inst panel would have worked there was no way it use it. Most inst panels in the salvage yards are usually junk also and a rebuilt is damn pricey. Worse comes to worse you can always mount a gauge pack below the dash the old school way in a gauge mount panel.
Mine are all Stewart Warner {S&W} wings

 

Ok so I got a new gauge for it, what's the normal running temp? Is it ok that it gets up to 205-210?

 

Depending on what thermostat engine has in it - 210 is about as high as I would want it to get - My morf has a 195 thermostat and pretty much runs there or just a little below .....