Factory gauge question.

[Bobbed72]

Hey everyone. I am planning out a 5.3 swap into my 72. Wondering what I need to do to connect the factory 72 gauges to the motor. Where do I connect for the oil pressure and can I make the LS temp sensor work with the 72 gauge or will I need a different temp sensor.

Thanks.

[scoot_mcgrute]

On my 66, I took the factory oil pressure sender for the 5.3, gutted it and drilled and tapped it for the copper line to connect to. Some have done it this way and others have run it down to the block off plate near the oil filter. I highly recommend NOT going with the Ebay banjo fitting adapter under the LS oil pressure sender. Mine leaked like crazy and couldn't get it to not leak. I used an 02 engine so I didn't have the oil pressure sender needing to send a signal to the computer.

For the water temp, I bought an adapter for the plug in the passenger side head at the back and machined and rethreaded my factory sender to 3/8 NPT so it would thread into the adapter.



I'm not too far from you and you're more than welcome to swing by my place and check my swap out if you'd like.

[Bobbed72]

Thanks for the reply, machining the old temp sender is outside of my resources. Repurposing the oil sender will be east enough. May have to take you up on your offer.

[mongocanfly]

autometer makes adapter kit for LS swaps...https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...hoCOX8QAvD_BwE

[mongocanfly]

blazer has some temp sensor mods...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=726700

[Bobbed72]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

autometer makes adapter kit for LS swaps...https://www.summitracing.com/parts/a...hoCOX8QAvD_BwE

Is that compatible with stock gauges? Their website just says it's a short sweep sensor.

[Bobbed72]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

blazer has some temp sensor mods...http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=726700

That's some slick work. Will need to keep that on my list.

[mongocanfly]

I bought that kit and wound up only using the oil pressure metric to standard adapter bushing ....I changed all my gauges to mechanical. ..

[Bobbed72]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I bought that kit and wound up only using the oil pressure metric to standard adapter bushing ....I changed all my gauges to mechanical. ..

Still have the temp sender and adapter?

[ls1nova71]

Originally Posted by Bobbed72

Is that compatible with stock gauges? Their website just says it's a short sweep sensor.

That temp sender wont be accurate for a factory gauge. It may move the needle a bit, but probably wont give any usable info. I just drill and tap the passenger side head for the factory '72 sender to screw into, quick and easy.

[mongocanfly]

I did the same as ls1nova on mine...drill and tap pass head...

[homemade87]

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

That temp sender wont be accurate for a factory gauge. It may move the needle a bit, but probably wont give any usable info. I just drill and tap the passenger side head for the factory '72 sender to screw into, quick and easy.

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

I did the same as ls1nova on mine...drill and tap pass head...

I third this motion . Works the best in my opinion . I dont like using adapters . Moves the sensor outside of the water path of the head . Also if you have a adapter sticking way out the exhaust is right next to it and can pick up some heat from it and skew the reading in my opinion . The closer it is to the head and water the more accurate the reading .

I vote drill and tap also using the oem sender .

[Bobbed72]

Originally Posted by homemade87

I third this motion . Works the best in my opinion . I dont like using adapters . Moves the sensor outside of the water path of the head . Also if you have a adapter sticking way out the exhaust is right next to it and can pick up some heat from it and skew the reading in my opinion . The closer it is to the head and water the more accurate the reading .

I vote drill and tap also using the oem sender .

Thanks, everyone. I think I will take that route.