60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

[Gerald C.]

I have a 1963 (10/31/1962) fuel injection car that carries a 60 lb oil pressure gauge. Upon starting it gets pegged at 60 lbs.. A few times I have been told it should carry a 80 lb. gauge. I ran into a 340 hp February 1963 today and it carried a 80 lb. gauge.

Was there a cutover date when the 60 lb. was installed and them moved to an 80lb. gauge??

Thoughts??

Thanks

[Duke W.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

Late in the '63 model year (May/June timeframe), mechanical lifter engines received a stiffer oil pressure relief spring that yielded nominally 55-60 psi at 2000 revs and above on a fully warmed up engine, and the gage was changed to one with a max calibration of 80. Prior to this all mechanical lifter engines used the same spring as other small blocks that yielded 40-45 psi at 2000-up on a fully warmed up engine and the max gage calibration is 60. In both cases the pump was the same "standard volume" part. Only the pressure relief spring was different.

As happens so many times your OE pump was likely swapped to a "high volume/high pressure pump" during a past rebuild, which is not necessary. You can leave things as is as it will do no harm other than creating increased parasitic power loss or replace the spring with a proper GM spring, and the part number is listed in a nearby thread.

Don't change the IP gage as 60 psi is correct for the build date of your car.

Duke

[Gerald C.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

Thanks for the clarification Duke...

[John D.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

Gerald, You may have issues with the '63 FI distributor main shaft seal leaking from too much pressure. Then the points will get oil soaked. Have proof. John

[Andy C.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

I have a February 360 HP with a 60 LB. You have the correct one in there.
Good Luck.
Andy

[Gerald C.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

Andy,

Does your "peg" at 60 lbs until the car gets very ward?

Thanks,

Jerry

[Michael J.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

I have an early May built L84, it has a 60 pound gauge that stays pegged until it reaches about 160 degrees, and I have had no issues.

[Duke W.]

Re: 60 LB vs 80 lb Oil pressure Gauge

One thing I've always wondered about this late '63 increase in oil pressure on SHP/FI engines is how did they co-ordinate the installation of the proper engine with the proper IP. Both should have had new part numbers due to the changes.

Maybe they didn't bother, which means a car could have gotten a 55-60 psi engine with a 60 psi gage or a 40-45 psi engine with a 80 psi gage.

It remains a mystery to me.

Duke