'56 Ford pickup gauges

How do I get my stock '56 Ford pickup gauges to work with the '85 351W I've installed in my truck? I've installed the '56 oil sender unit but it must need a resistor 'cause the needle goes off the dial. The '85 temperature sender doesn't work with the '56 gauge either.

 

Maybe try a sender from a '60s Mustang? Just check the part numbers to make sure the sender is for a gauge and not an idiot light. Ones for a 289 or 302 should work, or even a '69 and up 351W. They're pretty cheap and worth a shot.

 

Ford gauges were odd balls. You must use the original senders with the dash gauges. il pressure senders were produced in 2 pressure ranges, 60# and 80#. NAPA supposdly has an oil pressure sender that will work (I think for a Jeep) #OP6747 and you'll probably need a voltage reducer NAPA #VT6187 that you can reduce the 12V to 6V for the Temp, Oil Pressure and gas gauge. Only one VT6187 is required.

For wiring diagrams see this post of 14 pages.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=438925

Jim

 

They do make modern gauges that look like '56 gauges, and go in the stock holes. They come with senders, and you can add a voltage, and temp gauge. They are reasonable(compared to regular aftermarket gauges). I had them in my last '56, they worked ok for me. Check midfifty's catalog if your interested.

 

'56 Ford is 12v, no resister needed. But yes, you should use the original senders if at all possible.

 

Not sure how that VT6187 works (zener? Resistor?) but NAPA also sells a Ford-type constant voltage regulator like they used from '57 - well into the 60's; ECHIR1. I use one on my '52, wouldn't say it's perfect but pretty close. These work more like a turn signal flasher, a heated bimetal strip.
http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Detail.aspx?R=ECHIR1_0168398608

 

Thanks for your replies. As I mentioned I have installed the original oil pressure sender in the 351W and wired it to the '56 gauge but it reads off the dial. AlbuqF-1 did you convert your truck to 12 Volt like the '56? If so I'll maybe give that voltage reducer a try. Thanks.