Fixed oil gauge problem!

[RuralRoute C-30]

Took a chance today and contacted the one salvage yard in town. Typically they do not have old iron anymore but today I discovered they did have an 87 & 85 squarebodies buried in the back somewhere. Claimed they had parked them there years ago because they were too nice to be so old to crush as complete non-running parts trucks.

Since this is not an "open" yard, they pulled the gauge cluster from the 85 for me. Only problem was the oil gauge needle was broken!

So $20 later, instead of the original $45 price due to the broken gauge, I had the 'new' cluster.

After the day job I purchased and installed the brass for the extension needed and the electric oil sender. Plugged in my old cluster and the oil gauge failed again to respond. Swapped it to the new cluster,exchanging it for the one with the broken needle, and "Houston, we have ignition!" or in this case oil pressure at the gauge!

Now the cluster has a fresh coat of chrome drying with reassembly after work tomorrow maybe. Still want to clean up the mess of wires in the firewall area and install a radio before putting it back together. But it is nice to see it work!

So thanks again for the advice from the experienced for my inexperience and to the forum for the search engines. While I do tell my kids I am older than dirt this truck project has reminded me how I still enjoy learning! Definitely this forum continues to be invaluable as I do learn more each day on this 'new' old 85 C-30 truck in rehab project.

Some pics of what was and what now works and my favorite color...chrome, even in paint form!:

Been a good day!

Mark
Old:

New:

It works!

Chrome paint