Reply to "How hot is HOT?"

A gage that goes to zero indicates the measuring circuit is going "open" ... i.e. loosing contact somewhere.

A gage that pegs out erroneously indicates a short circuit or grounding issue.

An erroneous high reading indicates too little resistance ... no explanation

The first place to check is where the resistors are installed in the circuit.

The oem gage will be fine, if not perfectly accurate, once your electrical gremlin is resolved.

Befor you go crazy modifying the system or spending money on parts, make sure your Pantera has the correct thermostat & all the air is bled from the radiator.

They say "pusher fans" are less efficient at moving air than "puller fans". The Hall Pantera "Phoenix" radiator has the most "open" core of any of the radiators available for the Pantera; in other words, it is the least restrictive to air flow. This makes the Phoenix radiator the best choice for use with oem style "pusher fans". I am sure that is why Gary Hall selected that radiator in the first place.

The Fluidyne & Ron Davis radiators are better used with "puller fans" mounted behind the radiator. Aluminum radiators are light weight, but they are much more finicky about the properties of the anti-freeze, water and additives, they are more easily damaged by poor coolant chemistry.

The oem radiator is 40 years old, the reason it has survived 40 years is because its made of copper rather than aluminum. Copper radiators are far more resistant to poor coolant chemistry. Copper radiators are also repairable, no such luck with aluminum radiators.

-G