Author Topic: oil gauge  (Read 3561 times)

Offline Chevygold

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oil gauge
« on: March 22, 2020, 04:57:22 PM »
One of the remaining jobs to sort on my 76 Cheyenne is the oil gauge which doesn't work, I think it should be mechanical but there's no sign of the hose and looking up behind the gauge cluster I can't see a union where the hose would attach so I'm wondering if the gauge is actually electric?
Previous owner dropped in a crate 383 which has a pressure sensor down by the oil filter but that's it, I don't want to pull the cluster if I can help it so is there any way of telling from the face whether the gauge is electric or mechanical?

Thanks
Graham

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2020, 05:18:25 PM »
If there is no evidence of a tube, hose, plastic or metal, you probably have an electric one.

Use you phone to snap some pictures from behind the cluster. Pls let us know how you make up?
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Chevygold

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2020, 04:55:01 PM »
Thanks Johnny,
Had a good look up behind the cluster and no sign of any pipework of any description so guess it must be electric, next job locate the wiring and get it connected to the sender and see what happens, the other gauges all work so if I can get the oil gauge working I'll be a happy bunny!

Graham

Offline MIKE S

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #3 on: March 23, 2020, 06:48:34 PM »
The factory one should have been mechanical. So if it has the original wiring harness there will be no oil pressure gauge wiring. You may be able to just add a sending unit wire only. 

Offline 75gmck25

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #4 on: March 24, 2020, 01:28:49 PM »
I have a '75 cluster here that I could snap a picture of, but you should be able to look under the dash and see or feel the oil line coming out of the back of your cluster.  Its a small diameter metal line that goes back through a rubber grommet in the firewall. On the firewall side it snakes over and connects to the top of the engine on the back, driver's side corner.

Bruce

Offline DanMcG

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #5 on: March 25, 2020, 03:13:24 AM »
The cluster was probably swapped out sometime in the last 44 years, and the gauge could just need a wire added to work.

Offline Chevygold

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2020, 09:08:09 AM »
Thanks everyone for your replies, can't get to my truck just now as the storage unit is in lockdown due to this virus  >:(
Stay safe everyone!
Graham

Offline Chevygold

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2020, 02:13:30 PM »
Update on the oil gauge, found the capillary pipe for the oil gauge and connected it to the tapping by the oil filter. Ran the engine but still no pressure showing :-(
Connected a known good gauge and oil pressure is good, phew!
So it's either the gauge or the line blocked?
Will try to check the line tomorrow, don't want to splash out a fortune to get a new gauge only to find its the line blocked with stale oil or something.
Graham

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2020, 02:18:22 PM »
Sometimes they get burned and melt closed.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Chevygold

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #9 on: December 08, 2020, 11:49:32 AM »
It was a mare of a job but got there in the end! There was a blockage in the line where the adaptor was between the rigid capilary line and the flexible line I made to connect to the engine. I'd disconnected the pipe from the back of the gauge to test the line and try as I might I couldn't get the connection back on so ended up dismantling the instrument panel poking the connection through the back to start it into the gauge then putting it all back together again! At least I now have a working oil pressure gauge for no cost other than my time.
Graham

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #10 on: December 08, 2020, 05:55:18 PM »
Nice that you got a win Graham!!, now onto the next repair... ::)
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Offline Chevygold

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Re: oil gauge
« Reply #11 on: December 13, 2020, 04:10:28 PM »
Yes still a few to go, be nice to get the speedo working then I'll have a full set of working clocks, then there's the sloppy steering wheel, just for starters!
Merry Christmas!