LT1 and aftermarket gauges

[69LT1Nova]

Hey gang, I'm going to put some gauges in the Nova to keep an eye on what is going on under the hood. Does anybody know what voltages/resistances/whatever works for an LT1? I'm wanting something that works with the factory sending units. Oil pressure, water temp, voltage. Also wondering if a standard tach will hook straight up.

I tried a thread search, but didn't find much.



Note: I had my factory harness reworked by Speartech, so it already has all the gauge wires/leads ready to hook up (hence my desire to keep the factory sending units).

Thanks guys!

[Derek69SS]

A regular tach will work, and the speedo is either sine-wave or square-wave, can't remember which (square IIRC)... can't say for sure about any of the others. My speartech harness only had leads for Tach & speedo. I just went with mechanical gauges for the others.

[69LT1Nova]

I've already converted the speedo to work with the original mechanical speedo with a tailshaft adapter. No worries there.

I'd prefer to go with electric gauges for oil (no leaks, no problems), volt (this should be a no-brainer), temp (just need to know what the output is).

Good to know on the tach.

[69LT1Nova]

Bump... anybody? What are the LT1 oil sender and temp sender ranges? Work with Auto Meter stuff?

[130fe]

I used all autometer (with their senders) for my conversion. Works great. Are you trying to factory style gauges (not warning lights)? If so, try and the factory gauge senders. Otherwise, just use autometer type gauages with the senders that come with them. Hope this helps.

[druzdcm96SS]

Temp is on the head, on the passenger side at OE location, look for a plug on either head by the spark plug holes

[cudaman]

I used the sending units that came with the oil pressure and coolant temp. gauges (Autometer), which eliminates any compatibility problems. Coolant temp. in driver side head, oil press. at back of block. Coolant sensor in water pump is for the PCM.

[perry mitchell]

I wanted to do the same as you are trying to do. I used Autometer gauges. I called them up and they said since I wanted to use full sweep gauges, I needed to use their sending units. Otherwise, I believe you can use the stock sending units if you go with a short sweep version. Call them up. They will tell you what you can and can't use.

[69LT1Nova]

I ended up finding some Stewart Warner Performance Series gauges locally on Craigslist. Got a oil pressure, water temp, volt, and fuel pressure gauges - NEW in the box for $100.

They are the short sweep, so we'll see if they work with the stock senders. (the fuel pressure doesn't have a stock sender, so I'm plumbing that one in)

The gauges came with senders, so if the stock ones don't work, I can use the ones specific to the gauges.

[65BBODY]

i did an LT1 swap and just called classic instruments and they sent me all the **** i needed, nice gauges as well. spendy though.

[GeoffP]

I used all Autometer Sport Comp electrics in my 68. I used the senders supplied with the gauges - no problems at all. I wired the speedo inline between the speed sensor and the PCM per Autometer's instructions. I think the only OE sender I used was the gas level which is 0-90 ohm (I think!). Hope this helps!