Hey, I'm looking for a place to put my oil pressure sensor on my bbc. the location directly above the oil filter (3/8" npt?) will conflict with the z-bar, but theres another hole in front of that (1/8" npt?) thats also approximately above the oil filter. is that an option? I tried removing the 1/8 npt plug on the side of the block, (drivers side..maybe midway towards front) but just stripped it out. thanks alot charlie
the original 45 degree fitting would help? The other hole should have pressure in it too. The series of plugs just above the pan rail are where the main bearing feed holes are drilled, they also get pressure, but it probably goes down a little bit, the further forward you go! you'd have the opportunity to strip 5 of them. also there's one at the very front, it's 1/4" instead of 1/8, right? No hole next to the distributor on a big block, only on small blocks.
You right, me wrong , been working on Gen V's and VI's too long ( vortechs have a tap hole right on the bellhousing ledge ) I now remember the old gas Kodiaks they put the gauge sender under the power steering pump , for the square recessed plugs they do sell a special tool that uses tool steel bit thats replacable and will grab the plug and not strip , we used to make our own from drill rod , bend it 90 * and grind the square ( its actually tapered ) and harden them, then normalize them to straw yellow . apply a little grinding compound ( colgate works in a pinch ) to the sides ( it gives it a bite and tighter fit ) but before we used the tool we took a punch that was close to the size of the opening with a blunt tip and placed it in the hole and gave it a stern wack with a BFH to shock the threads all it takes is one hit . then insert tool and try to tighten it a little if it budges stop and then quickly try to unscrew it , another trick is to use a can of dust off upside down and cool it with the liquid and shrink the plug .. also works for external type pipe plugs too , if you can afford them matco makes a great engine plug remover set ...
thanks guys...i'll start stripping plugs tonight! any thoughts on using the 1/8" npt outlet in front of the 3/8" npt outlet that's located directly above the oil filter? the smaller 1/8" is still over the filter but more towards the front of the motor. Was the original 45 degree fitting something special to clear the bellcrank or is that a napa auto part?
The 45 degree fitting is what they used to put on big blocks, probably to clear the bellcrank, I have a few that I got off of old engines, but then I put them back on engines in my hot rods. It has a bigger male thread, and a 1/8" female thread to fit the idiot light sender. you could use a pipe bushing and a 45 degree street elbow to make one.
haha! they look like exotic pieces! thanks Squirrel. i'll start looking in the hardware stores this afternoon. I have just less than an inch between my block and the bellcrank if I stick with using the outlet above the oil filter
don't forget to look in the plumbing sections as we also used G/W/S fittings ( steel /Cast iron) also as I am finding br*** parts getting harder to find , Dorman discontinued lots of the fittings I used to use .
Hey fellas, just came in from the garage. two of the four 1/8" plugs on the driver side just above the oil pan came loose so I'm going to tap into one of those for the sender unit. Not crazy about having the sender down there where it can get damaged from debris...gonna figure something out to get it out of harms way. thanks again! charlie
on the trucks the only damage I saw is if the tire hit a object and kicked it up ( killing the tire /oil pan in the process too ) , only seen that once in 30 years . , if its really a concern , get a braided or metallic line and tap it for 90* and run the line next to the block to a sender ( if electric ) in a safe place but if your going to put line in might as well put a mechanical gauge in .
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