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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 210 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2008 Posts: 210 | My 1946 1/2 ton has already been converted to 12 volt. When I was taking it apart, I noticed that there was an aftermarket oil pressure gauge and an aftermarket amp meter. I have no clue if the fuel gauge works or not.
The truck has a 1957 235 engine in it. Could this be the reason for the aftermarket oil pressure gauge? Mayne the original cannot handle higher pressure?
What gauges in the instrument panel are effected by the 12 volts?
I want to get away from using aftermarket gauges. How do I accomplish this? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
- Do you have a mechanical oil-pressure sender (metal line/tube) or an electrical sender (wire lead)?
- 12v wire lead used on 1955-2nd (I think) through 1963 235/261 truck engines.
- You should consider using a Runtz-style voltage reducer if you want to use an original 6v fuel gauge/sender. Also, the sender must match the resistance needed for the gauge (the sender/gauge resistance changed sometime in the late 50s).
- The earlier oil pressure gauges displayed up to 30 psi (I think) and the higher-pressure gauges displayed up to 60 psi (I think).
To get away from after-market gauges,
- go back to 6v gauges,
- use a Runtz-style resistor with the fuel gauge (or, change back to a 6v electrical sytem),
- use a mechanical sender with the original oil gauge (but, the reading will be at the high-point of range, if your oil pressure is good).
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 784 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 784 | If you are going back to original gauges, then the only one you will have to worry about is the gas gauge. As mentioned you will need a Runtz resistor on that. The oil pressure gauge is mechanical, and the amp meter doesn't care if it's 6v ot 12v.
Don't forget you also have to change out the lights in yur dash to 12v.
George
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 210 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2008 Posts: 210 | Thank you gentlemen,
I have a mechanical oil pressure gauge on a tube/plastic hose from the outlet to my oil filter canister.
So the resistor is on the power wire to the fuel sender? | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 | "So the resistor is on the power wire to the fuel sender?"
Yes
Wrong - see correction, below. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,112 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,112 | I think there is confusion here. The sender usually refers to the sender in the tank. You want the resistor to be in the supply line for the gauge. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
Thanks for the correction, truckernix. Sorry. (I was typing faster than I was thinking - and, I type very slowly, with one or two fingers.)
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