I just swapped my 305 TPI for a 350 TPI in my 86 IROC and my Oil Pressure gauge is broken, is there another way to check the oil pressure, without relying on the gauge.

 

If you cant fix the factory gauge why not buy a aftermarket oil pressure gauge? Very easy to install!

 

Does anyone know what the oil pressure should be at idle? What about at throttle?

 

myn idles 25-35 psi on Stock gauge and when i give it a good amount of gas it go's to at least 50+ and sometimes of the gauge if i really go for it

 

Does anyone know about a port anywhere on a 350 block to access an accurate oil pressure reading with a gauge?

 

On the 350 block right behind the dist, there is a screw in sending unit, that is the oil sending unit depending upon the gauge or idiot light is the type of sending unit to buy. I know a person can buy a temp oil pressure guage fairly cheap, it will screw in to test pressure. hope this is what you're looking for.

 

There is also a port on the front of the motor by the timing chain cover that might be a little easier to get to. I picked up my mechanical oil pressure tester from Harbor Freight for $5.

 

Towards the front? Driver or Passenger side? Lower or Upper part of the block?
Thanks

 

Front of motor, right above timing chain cover, slightly on the passenger side.

 

how does the oil pressure work? like where does the pressure come from?

 

Oil pump squeezes oil from the pan and pushes it to the oil filter then to the oil galleys and to the different parts of the motor. Different clearances will change the oil pressure, as well as the pump obviously. There is a spring in the pump itself that will open when reaching a certain pressure that lets oil recirculate back into the pan and keeping the oil pressure in check.