Hi Everyone,

Since I am starting to gut the interior of my car (1980 L-82) in preparation for insulating the cockit plus repairing or replacint the carpet and trim, I have one area that I would appreciate some input. The existing clock has not worked for the last 5 years I've owned the car. Most of the time when I drive the car I don't care about the time and I don't particularly want to be reminded about it. Since the original engine is long gone and replaced with a 420 SBC, I am more concerned about the oil temp. My plan is to replace the clock with an oil temperature gauge. The 81-82 used a oil temp guage but it is not mechanical. I have found a used 82 gauge and can get the appropriate sender and the print circuit piece that it hooks up to. My question is; prior to ordering the above guage and accessories for it, how do you think it will fit with my existing bezel and how do I wire it. I had thought to get a used connector with pigtails and splice it into my system. Any thoughts? An after market mechanical guage would be possible and probably easier but I would like to have it reasonably consistant with the rest of the car.

Many thanks!

 

This was a round-tu-it for me last summer but I did not get there. I have the wiring connector but could not find it for the pic. This unit fits right in place of the clock. Looks original. The sensor is installed in the blind plug beside the distributor.




[Modified by paul79, 3:39 PM 1/10/2002]

 

I have the factory installed oil temp gauge in my '81, and the sensor for it is installed just above the oil filter (in the block).
The area by the rear lifter valley and distributor is where my oil pressure gauge sensor is mounted. I believe it is mounted there using a 90 degree brass elbow fitting.
Don't know if it makes any difference which sensor is mounted where, suppose not, so long as they fit and don't interfere with anything else.

 

Paul,

Any chance of getting part numbers for both units. Where did you get your parts?

Thanks for taking the photos it is appreciated!

Ken

 

Good point! That is where my oil "pressure" sensor is located. As I am retro-fitting I prefer to leave that location and wiring harness intact and go with the new wiring and sensor beside the distributor.

 

The bezel for the clock and oil temp gauge are different. I have the factory bezel for the oil temp gauge and it is flat at the bottom around the oil temp gauge. The bezel for the clock is round. Still might work though. I may be wrong but I think if you ordered the upgraded am/fm stereo, it had a clock built in and thats why you got the oil temp gauge instead of clock in the instrument cluster. I could be wrong on this but I think I read it once on the forum. I'm in the process of wiring my gauge as it was not connected. The only problem I am having is I can't get the plug for the sensor out of the block. I really need an impact wrench right now!!! Oil temp sensor part # is either 1#213-79 or 1#25037345. Both numbers are on the package. I got it at my local AC Delco parts house which had it in stock. I think is was around $25.00 or so. I don't think you can order the oil temp gauge new. May have to find a used one. Wiring is easy. I have wiring instructions if you need them.

Regards,

Jim

 

Jim73 has covered most of it. Those units are very scarce. The part numbers are not relevant as you cannot get these from GM. I got one from Gary Gruhala (with wiring harness) and the other from:
http://20thstreetauto.com/

BTW, Ganey knows how to wire these units. Give him a Forum shout.


[Modified by paul79, 6:53 PM 1/10/2002]