Found my dads original 1971 duster!

70SwingerGuy said
@dads71 , @missing linc makes a really good point here, if you compare his gauges, his dash gauge is right in the middle and his actual temp gauge is reading about 160ish(beauty temp). Your dash gauge when right in the middle is reading 215(definitely high) according to the temperature you took. So the accuracy of his dash gauge can also be debated; it has always been my personal experience that a factory gauge(in whatever vehicle) will show less then half when at a good running temp, and yet his is showing half way when hes operating at a respectable 160ish. Ive always found with a dash gauge, if you are showing half, you are running hot. And that may be the point hes trying to make :) But of course that can vary from vehicle to vehicle.
This is a a good example of inconsistency, and how you should always go with an actual temp gauge for an actual true reading.
Ive had a couple of beers, I hope Im explaining my point clearly. :)

Thanks. I totally get what you’re saying. I was meaning that if his factory gauge is reading half, but the aftermarket gauge is reading 160, that’s a good thing for my situation. As I said in a previous post, I believe I was reading the temp in the wrong spot on the engine. When I read the upper rad hose or the short hose that just circulates the coolant to the heater box it reads pretty much bang on what it should read (although there seems to be different opinions on an ideal temp). But anywhere between 165 and 190….depending on idling or driving.

I met up with a friend yesterday who has given me a rad to try (factory correct). It appears that my housing/bracket that holds my core in place is wrong. His rad should allow me to install my proper clutch fan and my rad shroud. I’ll report the findings on here, once I’m finished. I have another friend offering to lend me a temp gauge to put in the engine to see what readings I get from it.

In the end, I think I might have been overthinking things. There seems to be no solid instruction or set in stone place to point a laser thermometer on the internet. I think it can be used as a quick reference, when another gauge is failing or in question. But again, I was told by 2 mechanics now that I was pointing it at the wrong spot. My factory gauge has never shown it as getting too hot

Once I have the rad thing sorted out and proper fan and shroud on, I’ll post the findings. Also when my friend hooks up his aftermarket temp gauge

On a good note, my alignment is now done, exhaust leaks fixed and steering clicking fixed. Drives down the road very nicely

On a bad note, my transmission appears yo be leaking between it and the engine. I’m told maybe the **** face damaged the gasket while installing
Onto the next….