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Hi folks, Is there a cheap & easy way to fit an oil pressure gauge to my 70s Hunter, ie Ford xflow levels of complexity (just an oil pressure light !) I've got a big problem with low oil pressure and want to try a couple of things before I think about a full engine rebuild / replacment  It makes sense to fit a gauge so I can see the before & after pressures so I know if the changes have done any good. Usual rules apply, free is good, scrapyard prices are also ok  I'll listen to advice, I guess the options are either a modern electric gauge & sender or go old school with a capiliary gauge ? An engine rebuild would be a good idea but don't expect it to happen when there still some life left in the beastie  Plan B : I noticed seller Greenwood has NOS short engines for sale so if anyone is feeling generous and offering to pay (about £800) I'll send you my address for delivery and say a very public Thank-you when it gets delivered  |
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fad
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,781
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Plenty of veedub retro fit kits with a sender and gauge. Just a case of finding somewhere in the oil flow you can interrupt.
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Oct 21, 2017 10:49:06 GMT
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Hi, If you want a rough idea of the pressure then use electric sender and gauge but they are not precision instruments. For more accuracy use a capillary gauge. The thread will very likely be 1/8"bsp, 1/8" npt is more or less the same (the angle of the thread is different 55 degrees as opposed to 60) and will fit but don't go mad tightening it up use ptfe tape to help.
Colin
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Oct 21, 2017 13:58:09 GMT
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Thanks everyone, I know more now than I did yesterday which is good news fad I had a look at the universal "Gauge & sender" kits, has to worth a gamble for under a tenner welshpug the splitter piece looks close to ideal, other bits are nice but look expensive, wiring is as I'd expect and not a problem  colnerov the info is helpful, many thanks I know the engine is crying out for crank bearings & rebore or new piston rings, maybe also an oil pump. I suspect my oil pressure bypass valve is tired and I've seen an article showing to strip it and bring the "blow-off" setting back to where it should be, worth doing as I'd hate to replace big end / mains etc then find I still have a problem. Rough readings will be ok, no need for high precision gauges etc. The 3 main things I'd like to check : oil pressure at tickover (to see before & after readings), as I get a flickering oil light when hot (sender and oil have been changed). max pressure at startup from cold (so I don't tweak the bypass valve too high) oil pressure when cruising at 60mph (to see before & after readings) Have found lots of budget kits (just add matching T-piece, the kit below has a 12.5mm sender), anyone have any experience of similar? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-52mm-Black-Pointer-0-100-PSI-Oil-Pressure-Gauge-LED-Light-Universal-Car/152576525621?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l9372It looks like I'll be ordering some type of budget kit next week. Thanks everyone, all comments & advice welcome ! |
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Last Edit: Oct 21, 2017 13:58:50 GMT by nomad
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,189
Club RR Member Number: 170
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If you want to go cheap with the exception of the kit above I'd consider getting a secondhand Smiths oil pressure gauge, a connector to go into the T-Piece as per welshpug 's link above with some plastic or copper tubing to connect the two together. That said, Welshpug's kit list doesn't look "that" expensive TBH. |
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barty
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,088
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Oct 22, 2017 14:23:48 GMT
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takes me back a few years, I managed to get the whole dash from the top of the range and fitted that when I was a wee lad, mind you, you could go in the breakers and get everything you needed then
As said above you can get a after market kit cheaply but use a T piece so you can keep the original oil light
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Oct 28, 2017 16:24:20 GMT
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A quick update for future reference : The cheapo kit is now installed, early signs are that it will be plenty good enough for my diagostics. Parts : Y Piece, oil pressure adaptor, 1/8" NPTF (item LUSIB748 ) £8 including postage from Moss Europe Low budget Eb@y gauge kit, £15 including postage  As part of the work, I stripped the oil bypass valve in the pump body and added a spacer (nut  ) to increase the preload on the blow-off valve. First impressions are it has added sbout 10psi - will recheck after a good hot run.  End result is 50psi when the cold'ish motor is revved - have been warned not to aim for more than 90psi with a cold engine in good condition. I guess mine isn't in very good condition   If I was doing this agin, I'd look into the combined pressure senders (they have 2 terminals, 1 for oil light, other is the gauge sender) - not to be confused with the sender I fitted (2 terminals, earth + sender) |
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Last Edit: Oct 28, 2017 16:24:54 GMT by nomad
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) to increase the preload on the blow-off valve. 