The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Oil pressure gauge

How is the best way to change out the oil pressure gauge (1953 Chev 3/4 T.)--? Can I do it in dash or should I pull the gauge cluster?

Thanks in advance for any advice--T.K.

I put an aftermarket gauge under the dash and routed my plumbing to it. Takes minutes to do. I left my original in place. I will be removing it however as it was installed to verify that my original gauge was correct, and it is.

I believe i would remove the whole cluster.It should be easier that way.But then again,it's been a long time since i redone mine.Good luck !!

You'll be best to pull speedo, which gives you a hole to work through, then you can get at the tiny little fitting that seperates your oil pressure gauge from oil line. If you've still got the capillary tube temp gauge, you'll more than likely need to VERY CAREFULLY disconnect it from the block. There are a bunch of wires you'll have to work around....watch the old insulation, it cracks easy.

The key is to get enough room to pull the gauge cluster out far enough so you can get the back plate off and free up the Oil pressure gauge without doing too much collateral damage to the other stuff hooked to the cluster. I pop off the steering wheel for some additional room.

Personally, I'd rather drop the transmission than work on the gauge pack. That's one of the reasons why many (most) of us run a seperate oil, temp and ammeter pod!! BTW...that's a four beer job, but wait till you're finished to start sippin and make sure there aren't any kids within earshot. Hope this helps!!

That's funny. Sounds like the voice of experience. I can only add one thing, disconnect the battery before messing around under the dash.

I actually do have a separate 60-lb. gauge mounted temporarily under dash, but thought about trying for in-dash install. Sounds like will just go as is for now--will work on other needed repairs instead of tearing dash apart at this time.

Always appreciate good advice based on experience!

Thanks--T.K.

Guess I didn't read the question. Sorry!

A wise decision....that's how I discovered that my under dash wiring was all squirrley....plastic insulation peeled off at the slightest movement....wound up rewiring the whole truck. Another one of those "if it ain't broke" items that could have waited. I finally found a new 54 temp gauge but it'll wait until the very end of the project.

Dave

A gauge from a '54 has the same guts but the face doesn't match. I just swapped the old face to the '54 gauge- the thing dropped right in the cluster.

Same functions....different gauges and diameter face also...had a heck of a time finding a functioning 54 temp and oil pressure gauge. Made them 1-1/2 years only!!

The R&R process is the same....about as much fun as a root canal.

Thanks for all the good info--will get back to the install of in-dash gauge later. Need truck on the road to find all my other problems...

And thanks, olblu49--was glad to hear that someone else had also gone with under dash gauge. Checked out your pics--really great looking trucks!

Will post my pics later--

Thanks--T.K.