I have 2 questions about my 'new' block.

The oil dipstick is on the drivers side vice the passenger side. Will this be a problem?

I have the idiot light dash pod, and I would like to add some gauges to assist in determining the actual engine operations. Will the idiot lights still work with gauge sending units? Will the computer still get all the correct inputs to go closed loop? I plan on a 3 gauge pod attached to the center a/c vent duct work (oil press., coolant temp., and battery volt.).

Thanks for any assistance you can provide.
Aaron

 

Nice user name. Or, does it actually stand for "pretty outstanding speed"?

If you put headers on the 350, your dipstick woes will be averted. If you stick with the manifolds, performance will suffer, but there are reports of bending the begeebers out of the tube to get it around manifold. I like the headers solution, myself (even though I don't have that dipstick problem).

In order to add gages, you'll have to add sensors in parallel with the idiot light sensors. You can use the passenger side head for temp gage, tee fitting for oil pressure. The ECM only gets coolant temp (as far as the monitoring you're talking about, anyway), and that's from the thermostat housing, so you won't be disturbing that. Voltage is a piece of cake (any switched battery source).

You might also consider an A-pillar pod for the gages.

 

Well, it is an '85 all stock with the original paint job. Trying for the other reason. If I do get the car looking good, I can always put 'Pretty Outstanding Speed' in my sig and not lose my post count.

I do plan on getting headers for it, the original headers are missing. I don't want to use the 305 exhaust.

So I need the idiot light and the gauge sensors together? How does Chevy do it for the gauged vehicles that also have idiot lights? I think the gauge pod will look better under the a/c vent.

Thanks for the response.

 

Why don't you go on ebay and get a gauge pad off of a newer camaro? I have a '92 and it came stock with all the gauges. If I am told correctly, you shouldn't have to change anything to do this. The new gauge pad should plug right in and work.
You might wanna check into this, but it would be an easy alternative to all that custom fab you would have to do otherwise.

 

I've considered pursuing the replacement of the gauge pod, I've heard that the pod isn't completely compatable.
I suppose if I can't get a definative answer of if it will or won't work, I'll have to try it and write up a tech article. I'm not sure if the sending units need replacement or what else needs to be adjusted to work properly. Here goes nothing.

 

I guess I wasn't clear. The idiot light sensors and ECM sensors are independant of each other. I simply assumed you were going to maintain the lights and add the gages, and didn't want to affect the ECM in the process. If you replaced the idiot light sensors with gage sensors, the ECM would not be affected.