The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Oil pressure gauge

This isn't an electrical problem, but I figured instrument cluster issues is a good place to post. I use the original oil pressure gauge on my 57. It recently started leaking, and I isolated the problem to the brass fitting which screws into the back of the gauge, and into which the pressure line is connected. This fitting appears to be 1/16" fpt X 1/16" fpt compression fitting. The fitting is reversible, and the pressure line with a compression sleeve fits correctly with no leaks. However, the fitting does not bottom out in the gauge, thus causing the leak. Intuitively, the fitting is incorrect to begin with, because you wouldn't put a fpt face on the fitting against a fpt face in the gauge, but it has been leak-free for 50 yrs. I inserted a tiny o-ring, and stopped the leak, but now the gauge does not register. Any thoughts ???

doesn't leak AND doesn't register cuz the tiny o-ring plugged the end of the line?

you should be able to get new fittings and plastic line at NAPA or such

Bill

Thinking it was the line and fitting, I got new parts at NAPA, but the leak was still there. I ran the engine with the instrument cluster setting on the steering column and observed the leak source. The NAPA guys did not have a replacement fitting that screws into the gauge. It has occured to me that the o-ring has been squeezed to obstruct the passage, but am not inclined to remove it until I have a proper replacement. I think a thin copper washer like those used in carbs would work, but the NAPA man had never seen one that small.

a post in the parts wanted might find a used original line with good ends

Bill

....first off I think your 57 is probably different than my 52 panel guage...but, IF they are the same the fittijng you are looking for is called a threaded fitting. It just slips up over the line and screws into the back of the guage. No o-rings or compression fittings....don't ask me how I know!!!

Yours may be different but "maybe" it isn't and this will help.

I think it's fixed. The NAPA kit is a VDO pressure line kit with several brass fittings. The mpt end that screws into the gauge is a hair longer than the original, so it can be screwed in to bottom out, then install another fitting to accomodate the pressure line. I did that and there appears to be no leak, and the gauge works fine. Replaced one fitting the size of a .22 shell with two fittings the size of an acorn, but you do what you hafta do.

Good job....but for those who read my post and understand the fitting on my 52 I want to correct a statement. It is called a Threaded SLEEVE not Threaded fitting!
Glad you got it fixed and your right. Sometimes you just have to do what works!