New member here, have read through the posts up to about number 100, time to join the fray. My rig is new to me, (had a stock one and loved it when I was younger) -- it's a 48 with what is supposed to be a 364 c.i. 57 Buick nailhead, to a 59T four-speed, to a Dana 60 rear, 12V conversion. It was beautifully done in the 60's and I'm about putting everything original to that version back, shipshape enough to be a reliable daily driver. I'm doing the usual to bring back the original gauges (which were functional in the 60's resto. but have been messed with since by someone who did twisted-wire connections.) However there are a couple of aftermarket gauges, ammeter and oil pressure, which I think must have been part of the '60 resto. The oil pressure gauge is a straight mechanical type, which had been connected, but the tubing has been cut since, maybe by the twisted-wire guy. No problem to re-plumb it, but I'm not sure where to go for what would have been the Buick sensor location. There are a couple of ports, passenger right front on the block, and driver left rear, but they're adjacent to the crossover/water jacket and look more like coolant sensor ports. So the question is, where can you tap into a '57 nailhead to get a read on engine oil pressure? This forum has already been a great source of information for me regarding other problems, so ... hello to all and thanks for any help.

 

Welcome to the forum. Put up some pictures of your truck, please. So far as oil pressure points on the nailhead, you may be better off asking that question on a Buick forum to get an accurate answer. The last nailhead I played with was about 1957. Google reveals lots of nailhead information as well. If you have suspicions of where the oil points are, crack one of the plugs and see if you get oil or coolant. Again, welcome to the forum.

 

I can't remember locations, however I ran a 56 Nailhead in my 49 using original gages and sensors for all of the original gages. You will need to come up with adapters to run the stock speedo. In my case I had the nailhead running thru an original heavy duty 3 speed transmission which was located in the stock position. The original truck steering box interfered with the drivers side stock nailhead exhaust manifold.

 

A quick search made this yield. I can not verify the validity.

If you want an electric gauge set up, you will need the sending unit which threads into the top rear of the block to the pass side of the distributer area on the bellhousing. Then you will need an electric oil pressure gauge to correspond with it. You run your 12v power from the fuse panel to the gauge and another wire from the gauge to sender. That is it.

 

Excellent, Raytasch, thank you. Found some other references on 'Da Nailhead' site, fitting is 1/8 pipe, "The Buick p/n for the OIL PRESSURE switch is 1359289 and is listed as 1960-66 all big motor and 61-63 215 V8." I'm thinking, as suggested there, to put in a short length of pipe, then T to one side mechanical, one side original sender, if there's room. Room is the only gripe I have about this setup ... all you have to do to change the passenger side plugs is remove the generator, the battery, the battery box, a few lines and wires ... and then work upside down.

 

Did I misunderstand your desires for an oil pressure gage? I thought that you wanted to use the original 48 Ford truck gages. As I indicated above, an original flathead oil pressure sender (NPT thread) can be easily installed such that the original factory gage in the truck can be used. The same can be done for the temperature gage. The Buick senders will not work with the stock factory gages in a 48 Ford truck. I am now using the original flathead senders with the original dash gages in my 49 with a sbc. They work in an original flathead, a Nailhead Buick and a sbc and many other engines I am sure. If you want aftermarket gages in your truck, you will want to match senders with gages.

 

You're right, sorry, I didn't mean to confuse, was looking for a reference to the block sender threads with the Buick reference. I do want to get both gauges working just for the sake of honesty to the guy who did the original restoration ... he did such a nice job overall, I figure it should be honored, strange sense of ethics on my part. Found an oil pressure sender for the original gauge on ebay, PS 108, listed for 48 all. Will do the same for the temp. gauge, ammeter is straightforward. Now for the gas gauge ... that's a matter of going into the tank. But first I have to sort out the twisted wire stiff and get a reliable 6V supply, and thankfully all that is covered elsewhere in the forum.

 

Here is how to post pic's on FTE

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ure-guide.html

 

Pictures to follow. Have my hands full right now (of cuts and scrapes mostly, trying to get this outfit roadworthy before the weather gives out). But I thought you had to start a certain number of threads to have forum permission to post photos. Not an issue, I can post them on my own site. If that's allowed.

 

When looking for a temperature sender, you want one with a single terminal

 

You can post a pic in a thread on your first post.

 

And we would all really appreciate it!