Thread: Oil Sending Unit

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I have a 305 in my El Camino. I am going to install a set of shorty headers. It looks like they will go in OK. The only issue I see is the oil sending unit on the left side of the block just above the oil filter. It sticks out about 3" and appears to occupy some of the area that the header collector will have to past through. If this unit is in the way, what would be my options? I believe this unit sends the oil pressure signal to the oil pressure gauge.

Is there a reason you can't use the normal oil pressure hole located near the distributor?
My '86 El Camino originally had the idiot lights. When I switched to the gauges, there is a different sending unit that wouldn't clear the HEI, so I had to plumb it out of the way.
I'm also running the Hedman shorties.

Originally posted by MI2600
Is there a reason you can't use the normal oil pressure hole located near the distributor?
My '86 El Camino originally had the idiot lights. When I switched to the gauges, there is a different sending unit that wouldn't clear the HEI, so I had to plumb it out of the way.
I'm also running the Hedman shorties.

I replaced my 305 with a 350 and both had the sending unit behind and below the dist. as stated above I uses a 45 degree elbow and got it free of obsticles and it works fine. I use a lot of sealant because this is a great place to have oil leaks. sofar sogood E dke6bnl

Currently I have both the oil switch below the distributor and the sending unit on the side of the block for my gauges. The top switch is wired to the elec chock and the indicator light on the right side of the instrument cluster. I can't get rid of either one so your suggestion of plumbing from the top switch port may be my only alternative.
Thanks for the suggestions

I have a 82 305 and just completed a lot of work on it ....I had the same problem you described ..header in the way of the oil sending unit above the oil filter
this is how i over came the problem....

the sender unit under the dist is for the computer and also effects the electric choke....however you dont need to have the unit installed to fool the computer and the choke...simply use a jumper wire across the terminals in the sender wiring harness.....

now you can relocate the other sending unit( located just above the oil filter) to the oil galley under the distributor....
I had to use a brass nipple 2" long screwed into the block and then mount a 45 ell bow to mount the other sending unit into...clearance is tight but will work just fine...no binding or rubbing when engine torques up

be sure to plug the oil galley on top of the oil filter using quality sealant...
its not easy to get to again ...once the header is installed...and its a long way back in to remove the header just to repair an oil leak

hope this helps