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Where to tap into oiling system for guage
#154476 October 03rd 2007 4:18 pm
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I am installing a mechanical oil pressure guage in my 89 E-150 with a 302. What is the easiest place to tap into the oil feed circuit? Also, where do people recommend I mount the guage? Under the dash is not an option due to other things (trailer brake control, my shins), neither is an overhead console.

Thanks.


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #154480 October 03rd 2007 5:03 pm
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On my Dodge 318 engine, it can come right off where the oil pressure switch is. I pulled this hexagonal manifold rig off of a 360 engine and swapped it and the stock oil pressure gauge right into my van.

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You could use the sending unit port on such a manifold for your gauge. I actually took the instrument cluster gauge from a donor van and swapped it into my instrument cluster in place of the idiot light. Would mounting it in the instrument cluster be an option for you?

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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Ram4ever #154521 October 03rd 2007 6:14 pm
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Nope, not in a Ford. On Ford smallblocks the oil pressure sending unit is buried under the driver's side exhaust manifold right behind the P/S pump and above the oil filter. Kind of a pisser....


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #154522 October 03rd 2007 6:19 pm
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Ouch! Do you suppose you could use a street elbow and a long nipple (ok - no dirty minds allowed...) and extend the whole affair out to where you could install a tee?

Clear skies!


-It's been such a LONG TIME... BlueShift>> 1981 Dodge Ram B250 Custom Sportsman Maxi Van


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Ram4ever #154538 October 03rd 2007 8:08 pm
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That is what i am thinking. I need to pull the factory sending unit so I can take it to Home Despot and cobble together an extension from the plumbing section.


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #154568 October 04th 2007 5:38 am
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How about an electric gauge. Easier to run a wire than all that plumbing. Just a thought.


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
NateB #154587 October 04th 2007 9:17 am
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Hmmm. I will have to check prices. I already have a mechanical guage and I am a cheapskate. ;)


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #154591 October 04th 2007 9:44 am
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better to spend the money and invest in a GOOD electrical oil pressure gauge than break a plastic line on a mechanical one and fill the front of your van up with oil when the plastic line breaks......

yep that location is very hard to get to just another one of Fords "Better Ideas"........

..........Wookee


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
wookee #154597 October 04th 2007 10:29 am
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I always swap out the plastic line for a copper one.

Reed if you are installing it to test to see what kind of pressure you have to see what is going on in the engine, just do a temporary install and work out the permanent mounting at another time.


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Superbeast #154600 October 04th 2007 10:40 am
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I bought an Autometer electrical gauge off of Ebay a few years back. Don't remember how much is was though.

Autometer gauges aren't cheap.


Nate Breece
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
NateB #154620 October 04th 2007 1:13 pm
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The fords are tough to get to. If you go for an electic gauge it will have a sending unit you will need to tap into the oil supply also. Six of one half a dozen of another.


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Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
NateB #154626 October 04th 2007 1:36 pm
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I would prefer to do an electric sending unit since I really don't want to mess up the interior of my van. I once installed a mechanical guage in an Oldsmobile my sister used to own and it made a little black puddle on her otherwise perfect interior.


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #155044 October 08th 2007 7:53 am
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carpal tunnel
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I put in a tee at the sending unit. Used a mechanical gauge with copper tubing.
Because I had mounted my stereo in the overhead I used that dash area for oil pressure, water temp and voltage gauges.

Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
CatFish #155317 October 09th 2007 4:22 pm
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Can anyopne tell me if I can use the factory sending unit with an aftermarket electrical guage? Would it be possible to use and aftermarket electrical oil pressure guage and splice into the wire going to the factory sending unit instead of installing a second sending unit?


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #155320 October 09th 2007 4:33 pm
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Probably not because the gauge is matched to the sending unit resistance wise. Most electrical gauges come with their own sending unit because of this I would imagine.


Nate Breece
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
NateB #155321 October 09th 2007 4:45 pm
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Dang. THought I could save some money. Thanks.


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: Where to tap into oiling system for guage
Reed #155423 October 10th 2007 1:07 am
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carpal tunnel
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The sending units from the cheap(er) Sunpro gauges and the Ford factory ones are fairly close if you're playing horseshoes.
How about this thought: Check out the old boat yards or suppliers for a dash mounted gauge. The Mercury/Ford powered units used the Ford sending unit and, although new ones can be pricey, some of the used gauges survived very well because they are water proof.

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