Hey there, among other things I’m in the process of replacing the hopefully defective oil pressure sending unit on my 89 Camaro. It is the combination unit next to the oil filter and this has been the biggest pain ever. I’m trying to get the most likely factory original unit out and I’m at a point that my only option is to use a socket wrench, but my largest socket a 1 and 1/8 still is too small but I’m not sure how many sizes. Does anyone know what size socket the original units used so I can avoid buying another set piece by piece, they had a metal covering on the cylinder part instead of black plastic which the replacements have. Also the replacement units have a smaller head on the bold section so I cant get the socket size from that, unless it’s the wrong one but everything else about it looks like it will fit fine. Any help would be greatly appreciated and would take a little frustration out of the unexpectedly irritating task.

 

This isn’t related but I haven’t been contributing to the forum yet only asking questions. Here is a picture of what I have been up to with the interior of this same jalopy. It is farther along now than it was in this picture and I’m going to put a site together of pictures or at least a separate post describing the steps of the project. It is a fabricated dashboard with a flat screen that will be hooked up to a computer, which will handle music, gps and all that stuff.

 

oil sender takes a oil sender socket, just about any parts store or tool truck would have one. 1 1/16 open end wrench will fit it, i think, but you don't have room to spin the wrench.

 

1 and 1/16 is what fits the replacement sender units, the old one in my block is a lot wider. When pliers couldn’t turn it anymore I popped the cylinder off so now I can use any socket not just extra deep ones or special tools. I’m probably going to go get a 1&1/4 today and I wouldn’t normally ask a question as nitpicky as this but without my car a trip to the parts store involves about 3 hours of walking in the sun so I’m just hoping to make as few as possible. Also when I install the new one should I even try turning it by hand of pliers or just skip to a special too? Thanks for the response though I’ll check out the removal tool whenever I make it to the store.

 

For any one else who ever encounters this problem after a day of walking I found out what the deal is, GM cars made before 91 used a sending unit that requires a 1&3/16 inch removal tool, however the sending units used after 91 use a 1&1/16 inch removal tool and these units also fit cars older than 91 and are the ones you’ll find at the parts store. That means if you have the original unit in your car you will either need both special removal tools or just the 1&1/16 removal tool and a regular 1&3/16 socket that you can use if you remove the metal cylinder from the old unit while it’s in the block, but I wouldn’t recommend that unless you happen to actually have a 1 and 3/16 socket. You can also use thin walled plumbing wrenches to remove and install the units if you can’t find the actual socket tool.

 

Thanks so much for posting the Final Answer