47-55.1 Help from smarter people

[dsraven]

sounds like it.
did you find a number on your sending unit while you were digging around?

the knock sensor you can ignore or remove if you think it is rusty and will come apart causing a coolant leak. it is pipe thread like any other small block chevy block drain. gut the wiring harness of the electrical that goes to the knock sensor if you want, doesn't matter really
you could also remove the oil light sensor if not using it and plug the hole if you like, same reason. old stuff tends to leak or come apart when least expected and not usually when you're close to home where the tools are.