65 oil pressure gauge

[Chris H.]

I thought only 396s had the 80psi gauge, but according to the NCRS judging manual the 365 and 375 horse cars had them too. Can anyone confirm?

[Bill Clupper]

Re: 65 oil pressure gauge

Yes indeed, I've ownd several of these rascals, and the 6 quart oil pan and high pressure pump in the solid lifter 327's made it necessary. They've always been there.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 oil pressure gauge

Chris --- To add to Bill, even my first car ever, a '65 L79 (350hp) VIN # 4835 had an 80lb gauge. Shows up in pictures of the dash I took before buying the car, back in '68. Wasn't changed by dealer, as all the work orders came with the car. I even suspect it had the big oil pan, but memory is not conclusive.

[Duke W.]

It was a '63 running change

The 327 Special High Performance and Fuel Injection engine oil pressure control spring was changed to 60 psi from 45 psi in late '63 and this corresponded with a change in the max range of the oil pressure gage from 60 to 80 psi. This carried through to the end of production of these engines in '65.

Duke

[Bill Lucia]

Re: 65 oil pressure gauge

Chris, apparently this is not just limited to the 65's. I have a very original 66 big block coupe (427-390HP)two owners 45,000 miles. The manual states that it "usually" came equipped with a 60lb oil guage but on occasion an 80lb guage was used. My car has the 80lb guage. The car has never bee apart or tampered with. I think this is one of those "use whatever was on hand at the time" deals for both cars.

Regards Bill

[John Bixler]

Re: 65 oil pressure gauge

Iordered my 65' in nov. 64' The 250 and 300 motors had 60lb. pressurs gagues. The 350 and up had 80lb.

[Wayne M.]

Re: 65 oil pressure gauge

John --- Glad to hear that (in your opinion) 350hp and up had 80 lb oil gauges. The problem is the latest (3rd) editon of the NCRS '65 Tech Manual and Judging Guide, section: Interior, under Instruments, has a table that says early 350hp cars had tach redlines starting at 5500 rpm, and 60 lb gauges; later L79 cars (according to this reference table) had 6000 rpm redlines and (again) 60 lb gauges. My # 4835 had the 6000 rpm tach and 80 lb oil gauge.

[Joe Ciaravino]

Re: 65 oil pressure gauge

Chris:

The book is correct for a change. Seems that the small blocks using the 6 quart pan and high pressure (as opposed to high volume) oil pump, were built with the 80psi gauge. I can confirm that my 327/365 car has the 80psi unit.

Joe