Max cruise speed highway

I get it. Thanks. I keep that in mind. And yes i don't like to add gauges under the dash....will think about it though.

 

Here's some food for thought that will give you the best of both worlds. Put a Tee at the oil idiot light sender on the front of the block, run a -4AN braided line up around the back of the engine, through the fire wall. Make sure it has atleast 24" of line on inside of the car. Put an oil pressure gauge on it with a magnet wrapped in cloth so you can put it onto the lower metal dash without scratching it. Now you can do your high-speed bursts, keeping an eye on the oil pressure and then when you're done tuck it back up under/behind the dash and the magnet will hold it up there in place, out of sight keeping it "stock looking" until the next time you need the guage.

 

Interesting idea, thanks. I have to admit that when i go for it i will add oil, water temp and rpm gauge so it will be in sight but if i go that route i would be fine with it.

 

In the ‘90s, Nick Sloop would drive his 3.90 geared ‘68 GS convertible (with a 455) from Florida to my place near Atlanta, then we’d caravan to BG (me in my 455 powered ‘68 and 3.55 gears) at 65-70 mph. And race them. And maybe street race them. And drive them home. Watch the temp and oil pressure; if they start to go the wrong way, back off. Otherwise, crank up the Judas Priest and Deep Purple and roll!
Patrick

 

Robbie I find it weird that someone can love their car so much that is known for having oiling and some over heating issues, but not liking the look of 1 or 2 small gauges keeps them from monitering potential issues.
No dig intended at all my friend...You are your own person.
It doesn't have to be because you will keep it at 4,000. Low mileage and all its a 50+ year old car and oiling issues can happen with other problems other than high rpms.
The timing cover where the oil pump mounts is aluminum and wears out for example.. Its so sensitive that if the oil pump was taken off for some reason you need to pack the gears with petroleum jelly in order for it to re prime.
Have you thought of small gauges that mount on the A arm of the windshield? They blend in nice I think.

 

If anything I would put in synthetic oil I have beat the crap out of my 350 for 25+ years now, still have good oil pressure, the motor is clean inside and seems to hold up well to all the pressure I have given it.
I ran nitrous a bunch of times so the motor has done well using synthetic oil I run 10-30 Mobile one extended. It is for 15,000 miles but I don't ever go that many since I do race the engine, usually every spring, I only put about 1000 miles on the oil but I never took a chance on this motor so I change the oil a lot.

I run this oil in my Toyota Corolla XRS, it has a 8000 rpm motor with variable cam timing and this cam timing still works, I have 240,000 miles on it now. I have heard that most of these systems quit working after so many miles on the motor there is a part that wears out in that system.

I run this oil in all my cars/engines.

 

Hey, what is your first name? To be honest i have an nos electric oil pressure gauge (not installed) for quite a long time now for a 1968 Opel GT which has kind of the same design as my odometer in the dash (see picture), it matches great. I will probably install it in the future along with a same design gauge for water temp which i hope to find some day.

 

It's Peter..
That is a pretty gauge. If you were to install it maby you should have it checked for accuracy somehow.
Opel was sold by Buick dealers so it makes it even cooler..

 

Peter, good idea, i was thinking if it would be accurate or not...have no idea yet how to check that. Yes i know about Opel being sold by Buick, i find it a pretty cool find.

 

At 70 to 75 it was doing around 32oo with 3:42's, seems a little buzzy??
My 66 GS with 3:23's at that speed felt right at home. Was so long ago and I can't remember the rpms. Going from 3:23 to 3:42 makes that much of a difference?

Larry, have you ever had a chance to measure the psi to where the idiot light comes on?

 

As far as that vdo gauge goes it comes with a sensor and i have no idea yet as to which "T" i need to make it fit.

 

Another option instead of a water temp gauge would be to change the water temp sending unit for one calibrated to a lower temp. The stock one trips the idiot light at 245 or higher if I recall, which I found is the temperature that damages the head gasket. If you put one in calibrated to 225-235 it will give a bit more warning and time to shut the engine down before damage is done.

 

I agree, I have a gauge and idiot light w/225* switch; the gauge is usually blocked by my knee with the way it’s mounted (8-track player competes for space under the dash). 220* is not where I’d want my engine to run, but it probably won’t eat a head gasket.
I had the thermostat fail shut before I made the changes and by the time the light let me know something was wrong it was too late. If the light came on earlier it would have given me more time to pull over and figure out what was wrong, possibly saving me about $1000 and half a summer of down time.

 

In my car there is a sending unit in the manifold for the water temp but there is also a sending unit at the back of the left head (head temp) at what temp will the idiot light for this turn on in the dash?

 

Thanks, i will take a look in my Buick Bible....

 

What T piece/adapter do i need for my vdo oil pressure sending unit for the 1969 430ci?

Also how can i verify i have the right vdo sending unit for my vdo oil pressure gauge?

Thanks.