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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Instrumentation => Topic started by: txtj79 on December 01, 2007, 02:41:36 pm

Title: Converting Mechanical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??
Post by: txtj79 on December 01, 2007, 02:41:36 pm
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.
Title: Re: Converting Mecahnical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??
Post by: 78BBSTEPSIDE on December 01, 2007, 07:41:48 pm
Do you have a picture of the one you are trying to replace as I would suspect someone has one sitting around?
Title: Re: Converting Mecahnical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??
Post by: VileZambonie on December 01, 2007, 09:19:47 pm
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.
Title: Re: Converting Mechanical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??
Post by: txtj79 on December 02, 2007, 10:18:05 am
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.
Title: Re: Converting Mechanical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??
Post by: 123 pugsy on December 02, 2007, 06:25:55 pm
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.)
Title: Re: Converting Mechanical Oil Pressure gauge to electric??
Post by: Captkaos on December 03, 2007, 11:14:06 am
You are going to have to rewire the cluster to use the 78-up version (electric oil) on a 76-77 truck (mechanical oil)