Anyone Have a 64-66 W/Factory Original V8 and Gauges?

[MikeN]

My 64 C10 was originally a 230ci 6cyl with idiot light dash cluster. I have swapped to a 350V8, and purchased a flawless instrument cluster with gauges at a swap meet awhile back. Two questions...

1) Where does the sending unit go for the factory coolant temp gauge? Intake manifold? Passenger side cylinder head?

2) Anybody know where you can get the brass fitting(s) to run the copper capillary tube into the back of the oil pressure gauge? Anybody know what this fitting looks like, or have a photo?

Thanks in advance!

[Captainfab]

The temp guage sender goes in the drivers side head. For the oil pressure guage line you'll need a compression fitting that has the pipe thread on one end (I don't remember the thread size) I would think your better local auto parts (NAPA) would have that. They used the copper line up thru at least the mid 70's.

[special-K]

What do the idjit lights work of of?Could you find thier source?

[MikeN]

Thanks for the info guys. The coolant temp idiot light appears to work from a switch in the driver's side head, but I'm not sure the new harness I have will reach that far...will have to check. Unfortunately, the intake I'm using has no bung for a temp sensor, so I will be forced to use one of the cylinder head bungs.

The oil pressure switch for idiot light is at the upper rear of the block, but it will have to be replaced with the copper or brass tubing for the gauge.

[daverod]

Originally Posted by MikeN

Thanks for the info guys. The coolant temp idiot light appears to work from a switch in the driver's side head, but I'm not sure the new harness I have will reach that far...will have to check. Unfortunately, the intake I'm using has no bung for a temp sensor, so I will be forced to use one of the cylinder head bungs.

The oil pressure switch for idiot light is at the upper rear of the block, but it will have to be replaced with the copper or brass tubing for the gauge.

Did you ever change your oil presure sensor to a mech one? I'm having a hard time finding a mech sensor for a 292. All the stores here sell the elecric pressure sensor. My gage in my dash is out of a 66 with a 283 and it's a mech gage. So I'm thinking I need a electric gage or a mech sensor? Can't seem to find ether?

[TR65]

MikeN,

To echo Tony's comment. I bought a Sun kit (just the tubing and fittings) at the local Advance Auto for a few dollars and it is very nice. Has all the pieces you need.

As for the temp sensor. Most new aftermarket mechanical temp gages seem to use the late model GM sensors that you can get with various electrical connectors and small pipe or metric threaded fitting.

Just for reference, the original gages use an older type sensor that is readily available but all I have found is with 3/4" pipe threads that screwed into the intake manifold as mentioned. The graph below shows the difference in temperature vs. resistance reading from the sensors. I have not come up with a way to make the old gage work with a late model sensor that you can easily put in the late model engines. But I'm working on it.....

TR

[padresag]

Originally Posted by daverod

Did you ever change your oil presure sensor to a mech one? I'm having a hard time finding a mech sensor for a 292. All the stores here sell the elecric pressure sensor. My gage in my dash is out of a 66 with a 283 and it's a mech gage. So I'm thinking I need a electric gage or a mech sensor? Can't seem to find ether?

you do not need a sender unit for a mechanical oil pressure guage. you just need a tube line from an oil gallery. I believe that there is one at the back end of the block or one around the oil filter. 1/8 pipe thread into the block and a compression fitting for the line end and plumb it into the back of the guage where you it takes a compression ftg again.
the guage reads the direct pressure. an electric guage needs a sending unit and from there an electric impulse to the guage
ron
I see that you have asked this before so I thought that I better answer it

[daverod]

Originally Posted by ol Curt

The mechanical gauge is just a pressure gauge. It just measures pressure in the line you run.

Originally Posted by padresag

you do not need a sender unit for a mechanical oil pressure guage. you just need a tube line from an oil gallery. I believe that there is one at the back end of the block or one around the oil filter. 1/8 pipe thread into the block and a compression fitting for the line end and plumb it into the back of the guage where you it takes a compression ftg again.
the guage reads the direct pressure. an electric guage needs a sending unit and from there an electric impulse to the guage
ron
I see that you have asked this before so I thought that I better answer it

Thanks guys. job done just ran hard lineto the gage. The guys at the auto store kept trying to sell me an electric sensor for gages?

[LILRED66]

If you are running a V8, the temperature sender is in the front of the intake manifold on the driver side.

The capillary tube assembly, complete with the tube and fittings, is sold at your FLAPS (favorite local auto parts store). It will be in the Mr. Gasket/Accessory section. I just purchase one from O'Reillys a few months ago.

[LILRED66]

www.lmctruck.com
www.classicparts.com
www.truckandcarshop.com

all sell the H20 temp sensors and the oil temp sensors.

[daverod]

Originally Posted by LILRED66

www.lmctruck.com
www.classicparts.com
www.truckandcarshop.com

all sell the H20 temp sensors and the oil temp sensors.

Why are all the oil sensors electric? The gage in my dash needs a mech hook up. All the oil sensors I've seen are electric. I don't understand. I did'nt think switching from a light to a guage would be that big of a deal?

[MikeN]

I ended up using the copper tubing and brass fittings from a kit found at Pep Boys. It may have been a Sun kit, or autometer, I don't remember, but it works great.

[LILRED66]

Originally Posted by daverod

Why are all the oil sensors electric? The gage in my dash needs a mech hook up. All the oil sensors I've seen are electric. I don't understand. I did'nt think switching from a light to a guage would be that big of a deal?

You need a capillary tube from the back of the factory oil pressure gauge to the back of the engine block, near the distributor. Both end are flared, compression male threaded connnectors.

[ol Curt]

Originally Posted by daverod

Why are all the oil sensors electric? The gage in my dash needs a mech hook up. All the oil sensors I've seen are electric. I don't understand. I did'nt think switching from a light to a guage would be that big of a deal?

The mechanical gauge is just a pressure gauge. It just measures pressure in the line you run.

[LILRED66]

The oil sender/sensor for the warning light clusters are electric and the oil pressure gauge requires a capillary tube...there is not sender or sensor. This applies to factory gauges or warning lights...I don't know anything about the aftermarket gauges.

[LILRED66]

Thanks for clearing that up padresag.