1968 Oil Pressure tube

[Jeff P.]

Everything is hard. I had the radio gone through. When carefully installing it back I must have pulled forward toooo much and the connection came off. After looking closely , looks like the tube broke at the nut connection..need some guidance here. Would the black tube that is still on the fitting come off to reinsert the tube back on? Thank you in advance. Jeff.

[Paul O.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Jeff

If memory serves me the tube has a a brass ferrule at the end inside the connection. Not sure it can be reused.

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Thank you Paul. I was thinking if available ,get a new one run it outside in , make connections and button up the inside then deal with the outside connection.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Jeff------


You might be able to repair this. To do so, though, you'll need to pull out the stub of the tube from the fitting and discard the stub. Then, you'll need to cut off the existing tube so that it has an absolutely square and even end. Next, you'll need to install the INNER and OUTER ferrules on the tube (the top of the outer ferrule can just be seen in your first photo). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using NEW ferrules, especially for the outer.

To be honest, though, if your tube broke as easily as it apparently did, I think I'd consider that a "blessing in disguise" and "harbinger of things to come" and replace the entire tube. You absolutely don't want a leak at this location.

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Thank you Joe. Any knowledge of how easy the tube will go through the firewall? Lube etc?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Thank you Joe. Any knowledge of how easy the tube will go through the firewall? Lube etc?

Jeff-------


The tube goes through easy. However, usually the female threaded fitting is on the end of the tube assembly and it does not go through so easily. No type or amount of lube will get it through. To get it through you'd need to remove the grommet from the firewall and take advantage of the "slit" to install the tube. I really don't recommend that. What you can do is to drill out the hole in the grommet so that the tube with fitting will pass through. Then, "restore" (or, seal) the hole in the grommet by the careful application of black RTV.

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Thank you Joe. I'll follow up.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

C3's used plastic tubes? Shameful.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

C3's used plastic tubes? Shameful.

Rich------


Beginning with 1968. These are actually very durable. They don't live forever, though. The last year of their use was 1974 as Corvettes went to electric gauges in 1975.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Joe, Thanks. Interesting. I never knew that. C3's are my least understood year. Fun to learn from you and the guys all about them. I like them a lot, I'm just too pinched neck nerve arthritic to get under those dashes to even change fuses, so I avoid them. I love to drive them though. Much like my C6.

Last year I worked on a very original '63 which still had it's original 52 year old metal tube. I like those better.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1968 Oil Pressure tube

Joe, Thanks. Interesting. I never knew that. C3's are my least understood year. Fun to learn from you and the guys all about them. I like them a lot, I'm just too pinched neck nerve arthritic to get under those dashes to even change fuses, so I avoid them. I love to drive them though. Much like my C6.

Last year I worked on a very original '63 which still had it's original 52 year old metal tube. I like those better.

Rich-------


If you want to install a metal tube on a C3, there's no law against it.