72 OIL gauge

[Rey S.]

Does any one out there know where I can purchase an electric oil pressure gauge that will look right in my 72. I trust the mechanical gauge. It's the plumbing I don't trust !
Thanks

[Jim T.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Rey if you decide to replace the plastic oil line going from the rear of the engine to the oil pressure gauge I recommend getting a GM replacement because it has the correct fittings which is needed to attach to oil pressure gauge.

[Joe L.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Does any one out there know where I can purchase an electric oil pressure gauge that will look right in my 72. I trust the mechanical gauge. It's the plumbing I don't trust !
Thanks

Rey------


The closest you can come would be to use the 1973 gauge. As I recall, 1973 was the first year to use an electric gauge and, also as I recall, the gauge face was virtually identical, if not absolutely identical, to the 1972 gauge face.

[Michael W.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

'73 gauge is mechanical. '74 is the first year for electrical but the markings are quite different than '72.

[Rey S.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Hi Jim:
First -- Thanks for the reply,
Second where on the back of the engine does it attach ? remembering my engine is a early 502 crate motor so occasionally there can be differences.

[Mark E.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Hi Jim:
First -- Thanks for the reply,
Second where on the back of the engine does it attach ? remembering my engine is a early 502 crate motor so occasionally there can be differences.

I don't know about the crate engine, but the location on the original is on the side of the block, above the oil filter.

If you decide to keep the original gauge, one tip I was taught is to keep air in the line. In other words, don't bleed the air out of the line. This will prevent hot oil from being in the plastic line and keep the components cooler. Which in turn reduces the chance of failure.

[Michael W.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

As the line is deadheaded at the gauge, there's no flow of oil or air.

[Jim T.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Hi Jim:
First -- Thanks for the reply,
Second where on the back of the engine does it attach ? remembering my engine is a early 502 crate motor so occasionally there can be differences.

Rey I did not read all of your first post to see you have a 502. My reference is for the 68 and 70 small blocks that I have.

[Mark E.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

As the line is deadheaded at the gauge, there's no flow of oil or air.

To clarify, the suggestion is to install the line so it's filled with air. This means installing it with no special steps like bleeding the air out of the line. I've seen some lines filled with oil, which means either the line was bled or has a leak.

Once installed properly there's no flow of oil or air, but the air will compress a bit when oil pressure is applied.

[Michael W.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

To clarify, the suggestion is to install the line so it's filled with air. .

Agreed but the story about 'hot oil' if the line is bled is not correct.

[Ken A.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Use part 6464081 74 electric gauge & associated sender. Colors will match but the '74 reads from 0-80#.
The 72-73 gauges reads from 0-70#. You'll also have to get a gauge mounting panel from a 74 & up donor.
Gauges are available from any parts vendor.

[Mark E.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Agreed but the story about 'hot oil' if the line is bled is not correct.

Why?..........

[Ken A.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

If you decide to keep the original gauge, one tip I was taught is to keep air in the line. In other words, don't bleed the air out of the line. This will prevent hot oil from being in the plastic line and keep the components cooler. Which in turn reduces the chance of failure.[/QUOTE]

You were taught wrong, it makes no difference-but there is no need to "bleed" the line.

[Michael W.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

Why?..........

There's no flow of oil into the line. No flow, no heat.

[Mark E.]

Re: 72 OIL gauge

There's no flow of oil into the line. No flow, no heat.

Fluid thermal conduction occurs with no flow. Gases are less conductive than liquids, that's why it's better to leave air in the line.