Cooling system question

[fr7]

So I installed a new water pump in the 98 ranger 3.0, while disconnecting the hoses, one of the fittings broke, the store calls it heater tee (Dorman part # 47993), it's the fittings that screws to the block and I believe the temperature switch screws into that fitting and the orange connector plugs into it, then a small hose from there goes to the lower radiator hose.
Anyways, they order one, took 2 days to show up, just to find out the sensor won't screw intothe fitting, even tried a new sensor and it won't fit. They order another one and same thing, sensor won't fit, like the threads are different or something.
The truck has been sitting for a week now and she wants to get out of the garage.
I read you can screw the sensor right to the block and plug the hose. What exactly that sensor/switch do and what will happen if I do that? Is it just for heater purposes or will it mess with anything else?
I'm about to do it but I want to make sure it won't screw something else up. Sorry if I sound dumb but I need to get it done somehow. Thanks guys..

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I mean, on every other engine ive seen the sensor screws into the intake manifold...directly...

 

[RonD]

Have a read here: https://www.ranger-forums.com/2-9l-3-0l-v6-tech-32/lower-radiator-hose-138801/

Is that the fitting, 2nd picture?

 

[fr7]

Yes RonD, the one with the sensor. As I understand the hose is just a bypass to help the engine warm up faster, am I right?
The guys at the store gave me the stuff to plug the hose for for free if I decide to go that route, since their fitting didn't work.

 

[adsm08]

I mean, on every other engine ive seen the sensor screws into the intake manifold...directly...

The Cologne engines have them in the intake, except the SOHC which has no lower intake, so they are in the t-stat housing. The small blocks have them in a stand pipe tree. The 2.3 has it either in the t-stat housing or a fitting in a heater hose, depending on year. The Triton engines have them in the heads.

 

[RonD]

Not sure what the logic would be behind that lower rad hose "T" to upper intake.
Wouldn't be to heat up engine faster.
If anything it would slow heating up down.
Radiator coolant is stone cold until thermostat starts to open

Best guess would be that water pump design needed better flow.
Lower rad hose is the IN for the water pump
So may be it needed better flow before thermostat opened, so this hose provided that flow out of upper engine and down to lower hose and back into water pump.

But I don't see any major reason for it, but surprises me you can't get a sensor for it.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You should be able to use a pitch gauge to find out if it's metric or sae. I'll bet it's metric. Then buy an adapter to go from one to the other. The adapters I've used are pricey but....
Other option is to find a tap same size as the sensor and tap the fitting. That'll be pricey too.
Up here I would go to an industrial supply house, such as AES or Greggs.

 

[Rearanger]

Not sure what the logic would be behind that lower rad hose "T" to upper intake.

My truck has that design. I assumed it is the WP bypass, even though it's so big. It does add to cooling and I have it wrapped with pipe insulation to help the engine heat faster/higher.