Technical Oil pressure sending unit

I’ve got this VDO electric oil pressure gauge in my 40 truck with sbc. It stopped working suddenly one day so I replaced the sending unit with a generic $14 Chinese version that looked pretty similar physically. Still no worky (of course). Checked the wiring, tested the gauge itself, all good. So I was doing some research online and I read that VDO gauges need to be used with a VDO sender in order to work properly- probably something to do with ohms or what not.

Did a little more looking online, are there are like dozens of sending units from VDO to choose from. Does anyone know which one I would need? A part number would be awesome. Thanks!

The gauges are the “Heritage” models, but with gold trim instead of the silver.

 

First you need to know the thread size of the hole in the engine that it screws into. Then one that has the correct range of 0 to 80LBs. That should narrow it down some.

 

Honestly I'd send a quick email to vdo. I have the same gauges and I don't think I have a vdo sending unit...

 

Message VDO, they have always been super fast with a response.

 

X2 on VDO tech support. Contacted them about sending units for the water temp gauges for my flathead and they provided me with a Durafast number from Autozone.

 

I suppose you put the old sender in the garbage so you can't read the numbers on it now?

 

All the 0-80 available thru Summit are all not for a display gauge. That widdels down the selection by a lot. Those that are for a gauge all say 90 degree sweep but each look different. So of the 3 remaining there must be a match.

 

these are all 0-80 psi VDO senders sold thru NAPA Balkamp.
part numbers
1/8"npt 701-1823
1/4" npt 701-1825

 

I called VDO yesterday and the tech guy was very nice, he told me to get 360003.

I think I’m gonna try and pick up one of the ones uncle buck posted above from my local Napa just so I don’t have to pay for shipping and wait a week. Thanks!

 

701-1823 is a VDO 360-003

 

If you use a thread sealer, Teflon tape etc, the sending unit wont work properly.

 

It’s not that one uses it, it’s how it’s applied that matters.

 

So I picked up the 701-1823 but still get nothing- no movement of the needle at all. Also noticed that when I take the lead off the sending unit and touch it to ground nothing happens… I thought that was supposed to peg the needle? So is that telling me the gauge is bad? I checked all the wiring to the gauge. And in case I didn’t mention, it worked fine for about 10 years since the day I first installed it, and then one day I was driving and did a tiny little burnout, and that’s when the gauge quit and hasn’t worked since.

Any other ideas?