Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

[Bud K.]

What kind of fitting is used at the guage???? It doesn't look like a normal compression fitting as it has a taper to the male side. So does it get compressed onto the line while being screwed into the female? Can the old ones be reused?

Why can you get the block side replacement from Doc Rebuild but not the guage side? Can't find it in LIC at all.

Bud.

[Michael H.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

What kind of fitting is used at the guage???? It doesn't look like a normal compression fitting as it has a taper to the male side. So does it get compressed onto the line while being screwed into the female? Can the old ones be reused?

Why can you get the block side replacement from Doc Rebuild but not the guage side? Can't find it in LIC at all.

Bud.

Bud,

You are correct. The fitting you describe is exactly what was used on BOTH ends of the oil pressure line for all 63-67's. (and probably 62 and earlier?)
The fitting may be reusable if you can "open up" the inside to the original dimension before it was used for the first time. The tapered end did somewhat collapse when it is installed/torqued into the guage or engine adaptor fitting.
New fittings that are almost the exact same are usually available at your local auto parts store.
The only difference that you will probably find is the size of the hex on the end. Original fittings had a 5/16" hex and it it seems all replacements in the last 20 years are 3/8" hex.

Original shown below.

[Bud K.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

Thanks Michael, I've got a '72 block in my car so the fitting on the block side is not like the one on the guage side. Unfortunately I can't get that tapered type fitting here in country Australia. I tried to re-use the origional. I was able to get the opening back to origional, then I even annealed the fitting so that it would crush onto the tubing. It leaked (onto my red carpet *^##*) so I'll try again but there sure isn't much room to work with as the parking brake is so close.

Bud.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

I recently re-connected mine on my 63 after a quarter century worth of believing that the borden tube was shot. Some here on the board convinced me to re-try with a new fitting, but to cut back on the tube about 3/4" to 1" using a small tubing cutter. Once I found and bought the cutter I proceeded. I had bought a new line kit some time ago and used just the new fittings. These kits are still available and you should be able, in most cases, to reuse the old line as I did once you trim off the ends to get a new sealing surface. There is a lot of tubing there to work with. Once cut, it is best to carefully clean off any burrs; inside and out.

As for the E-Brake, well, mine is a July 63 build so it has the pass-through hole in the bracket, but it doesn't line up too well. I unbolted the bracket from the cluster which allowed me enough movement to start the fitting on the gauge "straight" while holding the back of the gauge with an open end wrench on the flat (square) surface. Once tight, then it was much easier to bend the tube so as to position it in the bracket hole and attach the bracket back to the cluster

Stu Fox

[John D.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

Thanks Michael, I've got a '72 block in my car so the fitting on the block side is not like the one on the guage side. Unfortunately I can't get that tapered type fitting here in country Australia. I tried to re-use the origional. I was able to get the opening back to origional, then I even annealed the fitting so that it would crush onto the tubing. It leaked (onto my red carpet *^##*) so I'll try again but there sure isn't much room to work with as the parking brake is so close.

Bud.

Bud, Do you have an NAPA store in Australia? If so they may have the fitting you need. The Weatherhead Part # is 6100 X 2. But it will have the oversize dimensions as Michael mentioned. Some of the old oil line kits at the local auto part store had this fitting in them also. JohnD.
P.S. My local NAPA store doesn't have Weatherheads fittings any more. They have some other brand but the basic part number should be about the same.

[John H.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

Paragon has those special GM-proprietary male and female fittings in their oil pressure line kits (although they have the 3/8" hex instead of the original 5/16").

[Bud K.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

While there are perks of living here in Warrnambool, Victoria Australia, buying parts that fit a 45 year old US car isn't one of them. I even had trouble finding the right sized tubing. That fitting is not going to be bought here!

I unbolted the parking brake too. It is still TIGHT up there! Now Stuart mentions that I have to also control the square nut on the guage too!! When does the fun stop??????

Any clues on how to remove the oil stain from my carpet (picture tears rolling down my cheeks)?

Bud.

[Richard C.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

We have the Correct line with fittings. The compression fitting is the correct 5/16" hex. part #38-30a in catalog section 38 - we do not sell the fittings only.
http://licorvette.com/oil_lines.htm

but if you want to pay $22 on ebay here is a link for the part too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...46098&viewitem=

[Stuart F.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

Just as an update to my previous post of January 19th on this thread, I grabbed hold of my E-Brake handle the other day and got a wet hand with oil. So, I guess my fix didn't do the job. The fitting was dry, but the back of the cluster was wet. Therefore, my diagnosis from many years ago was correct. The gauge is leaking, like maybe a bad bourden tube. It probably didn't show up before as I am now using 15w-40 oil, but I had it out and flogged it a bit so the oil probably got warm enough and with the higher pressure, well, it still leaks.

Stu Fox

[Harry S.]

Re: Oil Line and Gauge Fitting - C2

Stu, FYI....the 60 and 80 lb 63 gauge is now reproduced. They do look pretty good. I can't recall the pricing.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

Harry;

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for them. Since this problem first surfaced in the 70's, I had done a search back then and got a used gauge from a Corvette part out place in Washington State (Lincoln, I believe). The gauge works look good, but the face and hand are faded and no where near as nice as my original. That's what has kept me from doing the change all these years - my inability to exchange the needle and face. I tried to do my clock once and messed it up big time. Getting the gauge out is now a problem for me physically as well - should have done it 30 odd years ago I guess when I could move.

Thanks again.

Stu Fox

[Stephen R.]

Re: Oil Line and Guage Fitting - C2

Bud:

To get rid of the oil, try using Dove Dish Washing detergent or something similar that is used for getting grease off of dishes. Test it on a spot that's not visible and see how it works. I used it on my 59 red rugs to get some grease stains off, worked great, no smears and the grease disappeared.