Oil pressure

[levib1]

1972 C20 originally L47 402, now 396 crate motor. Not many details on the engine.

Question in regards to oil pressure gauge. Attached is a picture.

During normal driving, oil P looks like in pic - at the 75% point on the gauge. Is this normal? Seems like it should be at about 50%? At least that's what other vehicles I have run at.

Are there different sending units? Calibration?

Probably a dumb question, but curious.

[RustyPile]

Connect a test gauge, one that reads actual pressure in lbs. A fresh big block will have pressure in the "upper normal" range.. After initial start-up my 454's cold oil pressure is almost 75 PSI, but after it reaches normal operating temperature, the oil pressure is around 50 PSI running and 35 - 40 at idle. Motor oil WT has a big effect on oil pressure.

[cj847]

It looks normal to me. The gauge is usually 0-60 psi (some are 0-80, but you have to remove it to check). My old small block would almost peg my gauge at high rpm.

PS> the gauge is mechanical. It takes pressurized oil directly from the oiling system into the gauge.

[Steeveedee]

The engine (L47) in my truck was rebuilt back in the '80s. It has always pegged the oil gauge (I'm guessing 60 psi), even to this day, when cold, and runs about like the OP's on the road. It's down to what I would say is 25 psi at hot idle, these days. Looks like normal, to me.

[levib1]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

[Sheepdip]

Rusty Pile has your answer and good advice.

[KQQL IT]

Always gone with the theory.
If the lifters are quiet it's good to go.

However that's exactly where old blues 454 runs on the gauge