Converting Mechanical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??

[txtj79]

I've been told it is possible to convert a mechanical oil pressure setup to an electric.  Can anyone tell me what I would need and how to do it?  I have a 76 1/2 ton w/350.  I only wany to do this because the plastic gauge housing is too screwed up to reinstall and I'm having trouble locating a one.

Thanks,

T.J.

[78BBSTEPSIDE]

Do you have a picture of the one you are trying to replace as I would suspect someone has one sitting around?

[VileZambonie]

The old mechanical ones suck anyway. I had one blow up inside my dash one time! lol I think I pumped 4 quarts of oil in the dash LOL

If you pick up a used cluster just get the sending unit and run the wire or run an aftermarket one in the oem one's place.

[txtj79]

Well, I got a cluster that will work, but it is of course the electric rather than mechanical.  So what I need to get to make this work is the sending unit and wires from the a donor.  Where could I get a aftermarket sending unit?  Where on the block will I attach the elctric sending unit....does it go where the original oil line is?  Thanks.

-T.J.

[123 pugsy]

It just threads into the same hole. You will probably need a 45* brass adaptor available from most hardware stores. Any auto supply wiil have the sender,just ask for one from say a 79 pickup. (Not sure exactly what year they started but my 79 had an electric one.)

[Captkaos]

You are going to have to rewire the cluster to use the 78-up version (electric oil) on a 76-77 truck (mechanical oil)