Oil pressure port

[ga-stepside]

I am changing the oil pressure gauge to an electrical one. I pulled the copper line off the fitting at the back of the block but it left a brass treaded fitting in the block. There is no hex head or screw driver slot to try to get this out. Any suggestions? Worse comes to worse I could put some vice grips on it but I don't want it to break off. Also from what I have read this fitting is a 1/8" NPT, is that true?

[Troy Sr]

Sounds like vise grip time, and yes it is an 1/8-27 NPT.

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by Troy Sr

Sounds like vise grip time, and yes it is an 1/8-27 NPT.

Thanks. I don't have a warm fuzzy feeling about this! After all the other nightmares I have found the PO did on this truck he probably glued that thing in!

[HO455]

I have never seen one on out trucks but there are fittings that have a hex inside the fitting that allows an Allen wrench to be used to install or remove the fitting. On the bright side if there is no hex anywhere on the fitting I can't be very tight.
Good luck
How about using an EZout or other broken bolt remover? If you did get some brass shavings in the hole you could crank the engine over with the coil wire off and flush them out with oil before hooking the guage line up.

[Sweeet67]

I just replaced mine, you should be able to put a deep socket over the whole thing and back it out. I don’t remember the size though. 3/8ths maybe?

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by Sweeet67

I just replaced mine, you should be able to put a deep socket over the whole thing and back it out. I don’t remember the size though. 3/8ths maybe?

We have a winner. I climbed into the engine bay to get a better look at it, cleaned off some crap and sure enough there is a hex. It is a 7/16. It is out. But of course the new sending unit is too big, it hit on a boss on the intake. Either gonna have grind that off a little on that boss or get a right angle adapter.

Thanks

[Sweeet67]

Glad it worked out.

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by Sweeet67

Glad it worked out.

I fell kind of stupid right now. But as far back as that engine sits seeing in there with my old eyes isn't easy. Plus I can't believe all the stuff I had to take off to get at that fitting.

[Fraud]

Can you share what gauge and sender you're using?

Thanks!

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by ga-stepside

I fell kind of stupid right now. But as far back as that engine sits seeing in there with my old eyes isn't easy. Plus I can't believe all the stuff I had to take off to get at that fitting.

Getting old ain't for sissies. I bought a baseball cap with LED lights in it many years ago when I woke for exercise in the morning before going to work. I'm talking about getting up at 3:30 AM, and some streets had no lights. It works sort of OK working on the truck. I'm thinking of getting one of those magnifiers with all the LED lights on it, since the baseball cap doesn't always light up what I want to see.

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by Fraud

Can you share what gauge and sender you're using?

Thanks!

The gauge is a Dolphin, no clue who makes the sender, there are no markings on it. I think I can get a 45 degree male to female and it will work. Just no room back there with the intake, distributor and linkage bracket. The only other place I can possibly use is on the front of the block but I don't this monster sender will fit there either.

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Getting old ain't for sissies. I bought a baseball cap with LED lights in it many years ago when I woke for exercise in the morning before going to work. I'm talking about getting up at 3:30 AM, and some streets had no lights. It works sort of OK working on the truck. I'm thinking of getting one of those magnifiers with all the LED lights on it, since the baseball cap doesn't always light up what I want to see.

I hear ya. When I built my Z I would spend 8-10 hours in the garage. Those days are gone.

[sick472]

You might consider an "Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter" if you give up on installing the sending unit due to space constraints. They are great for adding oil temp and pressure sensors.

[ga-stepside]

Originally Posted by sick472

You might consider an "Oil Filter Sandwich Adapter" if you give up on installing the sending unit due to space constraints. They are great for adding oil temp and pressure sensors.

Didn't think of that. It's an option, thanks.

[davepl]

BTW just for anyone following along, the line should be STEEL and not COPPER. Copper will work harden and leak eventually.

[TinnMann]

I had to re-route my oil pressure sender in my firebird when i build a 350 vortec for it last year. I got some small copper nipples and fittings from the hardware store to move the sender towards the drivers side a little more. It was very tight and quite the headache, but it worked, there is a little more room in our trucks so you should have no problem. (Although the sending unit might not be as accurate if you go too far?) Make sure to use thread sealent on all heavy oil application threads. Good luck!
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[zosoppp]

Since the mechanical style oil pressure gauges had a line all the way from the engine into the cab to the back of the gauge, and they "worked" then putting a few inches of line in to move the electrical pressure sensor should not affect the pressure readings.

Temperature gauge senders, on the other hand, should be "in the flow" inside the part they mount to. Too many adapters can move the probe into a dead spot and cause them to potentially read low.