thanks for the pic buzz, that looks like itll work nicely!

yeah if the heater is circulating you could probably just cut into one of those lines with an adapter and throw it in there... my fear there though is how closely that reflects engine temperature - the vws im familiar with either dont circulate through the heater core all the time, or the heatercore is one of the last things in the flow and it doesnt reflect what the ECU temp is all that closely.

 

Steiger Performance - Inline radiator hose temperature sensor adapter

Try something like this.

 

the problem with having sensors in the radiator hoses is that the temperature will fluctuate with tstat opening/closing, which is really annoying if youre just glancing at the gauge, and again doesnt actually tell you engine temp.
this is why im looking for a spot upstream of the tstat

 

If you want engine temp, and not coolant temp, get a cylinder head temp sensor.
CHT Cylinder Head Temperature Sensors 12 mm and 14 mm

 

i meant coolant temp in the engine

 

Could do both...but if you wanted a separate gauge hardwired in for ECT, then these work well.
JEGS High Performance - 918-323-900

Just have to then pick whatever qauge you want and install it.

 

yup, thats what came in the VDO kit ive got

 

heres where everythings at after the weekend. i put on the "heavy duty" taller oil filter while i was in there taking things apart as well. expect to add an extra .5qt or so of oil if youre going that route. i think there were some questions in one of the oil filter threads on whether the heavy duty filter would fit with the glowshift adapter - and it does. with room to spare.
also turns out that coolant plug on this truck wasnt brass, it was steel, but no matter.

probably more pictures than needed, but who doesnt like looking at pictures :P

 

This looks great. Back when the engine was a whopping 3.5 liters, that fitting on the intake was part of the heater core system.

 

i'm using the glowshift hose adaptor in both D1 and D2. It's nicely made all metal and fits snug in the hoses.

Disclaimer: I've only installed the D2 and I use it for an inline thermostat conversion. I have the gauge and adaptor for the D1 but haven't put it in yet as I've been using the ultragauge. i may get to it soon tho.

sorry. irrelevant post. nice going on the oil adaptor. and great pic taker. keep it up!