help with factory oil guage hookup and line

[arcticman]

Hello everyone, Can someone tell me if the factory oil guage had a sending unit or was it connected directly to an oil port on the engine side. Im changing out my insturment cluster with idiot lights for one with actual guages the temp and alt. guage are not an issue but im not sure how to connect the oil up. Im thinking they used copper line with compression fitting and went dirrectly from the block to the guage. I know newer aftermarket guages use a plastic line instead of copper. where would i get the line and fitting?
thanks Scott

[roll_the_dice]

The factory gauges used copper line and a port to the engine block. I even bought the copper tubing and correct fittings from lockdoc, but decided to change mine to an oil gauge with a sending unit and modified the face of the gauge to have an OEM faceplate. I just didn't want to run the tubing and hope I don't get a leak at the gauge. Just always scared me.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=613238

[AcampoDave]

The o.e.m line was actually two ines joined together with a coupler at the engine side of the firewall. I suppose it was to facilitate the removal of the cluster as it was pretty much a straight shot from the back of the guage, thru the firewall grommet and to the coupler. The line from the engine port side came up and made a spiral and then went into the coupler.

[AcampoDave]

Here's a qick pic. My spiral is not looking so round these days but that's it below the feed wire for the HEI.

[Riverstory]

The original tubing is 1/8" steel, the fittings can be obtained thru mcmaster carr.

From what I've read, copper will fail over time due to acids in the oil. And plastic is an accident waiting to happen.

I ordered 304/304L Stainless Steel Round Tube, 0.028" Wall Thickness, 1/8" OD (8457K51) plus Compression Fitting for Steel Tubing, Straight Connector for 1/8" Tube OD (52215K533) plus Compression Fitting for Steel Tubing, Straight Adapter for 1/8" Tube OD x 1/8 NPTF Male (52215K621) and lastly Sleeve for 1/8" Tube OD for Compression Fitting for Steel Tubing (52215K501) to replace the the feral on the back of the oil gauge.

Make sure to run a coil of tubing for vibration relief.

There are plenty of posts here that talk about leaking oil in the cab. Something I don't want nor need. Best of luck. Hope this helps

[The Rocknrod]

Pics of the back of the gauge and the line - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...19&postcount=1

[arcticman]

thanks for the input and advice it was helpful.

[arcticman]

Thanks again for the help. I recieved the insturment cluster today. and it has a piece of the original line and you are correct it is steel. tey may have changed to copper later on i dont know. i will be using steel

[rideblue00]

I like what Riverstory did, stainless is better