Ok guys I have used the search feature but have been finding differing results. I am swapping a v8 into an 86 v6 body. So I just have a few questions that I hope I can get all of the answers to here.

For starters, The computer has been taken out of this car and the wiring harness into the engine from the drivers side and the passenger side has been cut. I have other v6 cars to get wiring harnesses off of, for connectors and such, if needed. I am installing a carb'd v8.

So my first question being the fuel pump and how the gauge works. I am switching to the mechanical style fuel pump. Does the fuel gauge work through the computer or does it go straight to the gauge?

My second question is about the gauge cluster and the gauges themselves, besides the fuel gauge which was in my last question. Does anyone know which wire I can connect to the new distributer for the Tach? I know That the v6 tach will need a different resistor, but I am more worried about hooking it up first. Is the computer needed? For the oil pressure and temperature gauges, are they through the computer? if so how would I go about hooking up these gauges to an old small block? I would really like to be able to hook up the gauges without using all aftermarket gauges.

My last question is if I get a computer for the car, which shouldn't be hard, Does it make hooking up the gauges easier or am I just up a creek without a paddle to use the stock gauges at all? Thanks for all the help and advice.

 

The only thing the computer could do for you in a carb swap is turn on the in-tank electric fuel pump. Since you've stated you want to go to a mechanical pump, you'll be going to the Carburetor forum and checking out the sticky that discusses converting an EFI tank pick-up to a mechanical pick-up. The fuel gauge sending unit is not affected in this process

None of the gauges go through the computer. So, you don't need the computer for them to work. All of the engine gauge signal wires are in the harness that passes through the firewall at the driver side corner of the engine compartment. The tach signal wire is a white one.

 

Sounds great, I did read all the sticky's before I posted this and did see how to make the mechanical pickup. I was just worried I would not be able to use any of my stock gauges.

If anyone knows, how do i take the oil pressure from the block, which uses a small tube, at least that is what the block had, and hook it up to my dash gauge?

 

You don't
You use the elec oil pressure sender unit that runs the OP gauge from the V6 engine or if you don't have one you buy a new one to install

 

So would a part like this work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wells-PS114-Oil-Pressure-Sender-Switch-/330813993846?_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D163%26meid%3D6341870643214654028%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1088%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D400219980409%26
If so would I just hook up the ground and whatever color wire the Oil pressure is?

 

Just wondering if anyone can confirm that this is indeed the plug I need to get for the oil pressure sending unit?

 

Looks more like this:



Assuming you use the stock connector.

 

Well I no longer have the stock connecter so could I just hook up the power and ground to the one that I posted? Would it work?

 

The gauge has power to one side. The other side goes to the sender, which provides a path to ground with a variable resistance based on oil pressure. You need a single terminal sending unit if you aren't going to use the stock one (the stock sender is also a switch for the fuel pump).