Monday I had a local mechanic shop break the plug loose and install the Oil-Temp Sending Unit. But the Unit was too big for the hole. Come to find out it looks more like the Engine-Temp Sending Unit than the Oil-Temp. Well, this took me on a journey to find the correct part. AutoZone, PepBoys, O'Riellys, Performance Shops (won't even bother with these shops again, looks like they are only selling to the "Fast and Furious" crowd. Told me they could not even cross reference the part for me, let alone order it)
So I ended up calling my local Chevrolet dealer, who has told me when I called last week for a compression check, "we do not work on older corvettes." Well, they don't even work on their newer ones either, everyone I talked to at the Corvette show this weekend told me they bought their car there, but would never take it there for repairs. Is this normal, or is this dealership pretty poor when it comes to mech work? I have a friend that told me he does not take his 2002 truck there either. Well to make a long story long, I showed up at their parts department since the guy on the phone could not understand what I was talking about. We both looked through their parts computer and found this part:
Oil temp sending unit
25036292 w/ stereo, C.B.
I know the Oil-Temp Gauge was an option when the radio supplied the time (the clock was replaced with the Oil Guage).
But every parts store I visited could not bring this part up. "Oil-Temp gauge! What do you need to know the oil-temp for?" Well, because my car has one and I need to install the correct sending unit. I have the money, you sell me the part.
So here is my new problem, the part comes in Wednesday at the dealership, (I am very wary that this will be the correct part) has anyone ever replaced or has anyone ever seen this actual part? My engine was rebuilt and a plug put into its place. I have to rationalize there was a reason for this. Does this sending unit inhibit the flow of oil near the oil filter?
This part looks like it is hard to come by, should I buy the only two they can locate? So that when this one breaks I can replace it in years to come?
As reference, the Engine-Temp Sending Unit has a 1" size thread, the Oil-Temp Sending Unit looks like it is 1/2".
Thanks for the knowledge,
1981