The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop oil pressure gauge connection

I'm installing a '95 lt1 in my 1950 Chevy. Just wondering if there are any issues connecting the brass line from a fitting on the engine to the original gauge? (Using aftermarket original style gauge converted to 12 volt. I believe the gauge reads 0-60.

The original gauge was/is mechanical using the steel tube from the engine to the gauge to relay the pressure. The LT1 engine should have a threaded port on the rear of the block or possibly one near the oil filter. The sending unit should thread into the port but if there is not enough room you could mount it remote and run a line to it, the kits that are available normally have either copper tubing or nylon tubing, I prefer the copper. I am a little confused on your installation, is the new gauge mechanical or 12 volt electric?

78buckshot...just to clarify...the gauge CLUSTER, i.e.,fuel,temp,oil and dc will be upgraded to 12 volt, the oil pressure gauge will still be mechanical.

That should be pretty straight forward, only thing to be concerned about is the actual fitting for each end. Some are a compression ferrule, some are a type of "flare" nut with the compression surface as part of the nut. Do you know if the engine has a high pressure or high volume pump, it might peg the 60 psi gauge when cold.

The relief valve on an LT1 is set to 75PSI. I don't know if that much pressure will damage the old mechanical gauge or not.

Yes ,if its a high volume oil pump. I`ve had one in my 327 for 5 years now and it was tested
separate at 82 psi. Pegs my original mechanical gauge out driving. No damage.
It idles at 30psi.

In a typical street engine, not built specifically for high RPM, high load abuse, all you need for oil pressure is roughly 10 psi per 1000 rpm. If a high volume or high pressure pump is installed in an otherwise stock engine, you will more than likely end up with uncontrolled oil burning/consumption and possibly bearing erosion.