69 SB Oil pressure gauge plastic line fix

[Driftwood]

Looks like I have the original oil pressure plastic line coming off my SB for the oil pressure gauge. It might be leaking so I'm going to plug it off. What's the best fix? Having pressurized oil in a plastic line outside the engine doesn't seem like a smart setup. Do those in the know recommend a different setup, maybe a sensor and a different gauge? Or do people think replacing the plastic line is good enough?

Thanks for any info,
Andy

 

[Jack]

Andy:
I'm not a purist when it comes to mods. Nevertheless, a NEW OE-type plastic line kit will do an excellent job for vast majority of earlier C3's. Plastic line fails due to age-heat embrittlement & subsequent tugging-bumping. Realize yours probably lasted 30+ years ... not too shabby, huh? Get a NEW kit from zip, last detail etc. Or, you can piece a kit together yourself from hardware store.

There are aftermarket braided stainless steel armored lines available for about $30 ... but for most folks it's overkill IMHO. BTW, under that braid is a plastic line too.

Regardless where you source NEW line ... When you put it in, you'll have to pull op gage out ... go ahead & leave gage hanging out for a day or two after NEW kit install ... to make sure there's no leaks at gage.
JACK:gap

 

[Ken Anderson]

GM did not use a plastic oil line on ANY car they ever built. They always used steel.

 

[Driftwood]

This is the line from the engine to the oil pressure gauge in the console. It does appear to be a thin black plastic line with a 1/8" NPT cap on the end.

 

[Jack]

First ... Welcome aboard CACC Ken!
I respect your duty to disagree ... and do so myself. Most, if not all early C3 came new with black plastic oil line. Many if not most C2 came with copper-plated steel oil line. '75-up C3, all C4 & all C5 came with electric op gages, wires, senders.
JACK:gap

 

[LIRacer]

Driftwood,

Last winter while replacing by clock I broke the oil gauge line. I purchased a new one (and a spare). It was easy to install. I used a little teflon tape on the fittings, and then taped it to other more hardy lines for strength. Works great.

Bruce

 

[SwaveDave]

I had a plastic oil line from my pressure guage to the sending unit ; it developed a crack in it and sprayed oil on the backside of my radio / tape deck. I replaced it with an 1/8" copper line and brass fittings---thats the way it should have been done at the factory ; not using plastic so close to the exhaust of a motor.

 

[Jack]

Since I'm certainly no expert nor mechanical engineer nor NCRS member ... I thought I'd ask one if plastic op gage line is correct for my 71. I contacted NCRS' C3 tech guy ... Chuck Berge tells me black plastic oil pressure gage line is correct for my 71. I didn't ask about other models ... NCRS has different tech guys for the other generations.
JACK:gap

 

[red70vette]

The black plastic op line is correct from the factory. I replaced mine for piece of mind. I figure it should be good for another 33 years. Mine never failed.

 

[SwaveDave]

If youre going to use the plastic...then i suggest you insulate it good ; if it ruptures you can expect a mess under some 60 psi of pressure.