Knock Sensor Mounting

Hi everyone, I am in the process of trying to find a suitable location to mount my knock sensors. The engine is a Dart block Ford Windsor. There are no mounting bosses on the block to accommodate knock sensors that I can see. One option I see is to make an ‘adaptor stud’ out of one of the vertical engine mount bolts and attach the sensors each side that way. There are threaded holes in the ends of the cylinder heads that I could pick up on also. Thoughts…..suggestions… has anyone faced this particular issue and how did you solve it?

Appreciate your feedback.

Cheers

Jake

Great question Jake.

I stick to block mounting. Using an existing hole is certainly more desirable, even if it means drilling and re-tapping to a new size.

If you can adapt a stud, your engine mount idea might work great, though I've not tried that.

My next, and potentially horrible idea, is to replace a freeze plug. If you don't need freeze plugs for their intended purpose, perhaps machine a piece that has a knock sensor mounting provision, and press fit it in the middle cylinder freeze plug hole on each side. Material choice seems key to ensure it would press reasonably, stay in place.

Hopefully someone has a better idea or will confirm the engine mount or freeze plug replacement idea is sound.

I'm currently wiring a Ford Windsor engine. I made an adapter for the customer out of stainless, turned the male thread on the lathe, then used a mill to make the top Hex and tap for M8x1.25 to fit the bolt for the Bosch knock sensor. We used a boss near the engine mount area (near the center of the block on the left, more toward the rear on the right, down low). I will know in a few weeks if this works ok. Here are pics of the left:

Right Side:

That would be awesome if you could. My engine is built and in the car and I’m in the process of wiring it. If I don’t have access to drill and tap it in place I will just have to pull it out again.

Post above updated with pics

Re: Mike's suggestion - many engine blocks used for competition will have the casting core plugs threaded for screw in blanking plugs - it not ordered that way, might it be viable, depending on access, to thread a couple and fit the sensors in the plugs?

Hi Gord, that might have been an option when it was a bare block but it’s assembled and in the car now. I’d go as far as removing the engine to drill and tap something but to machine a thread in a core/freeze plug hole isn’t really an option at this point. It would have been nice to have screw in freeze plugs from Dart. Or even better a couple of tapped bosses in the block for knock sensors. 😅