I am looking at a local TII, 1988. The car starts runs smoothly, idles a little rough when warm. Doesn't smoke at all. I haven't driven it yet. Body is in fair condition, seat leather is trashed, electronics are good except the wiper switch need rebuilt. Everything is original, no mods with 90,000 miles.

It is obvious that the car has been sitting and not being driven in at least months, maybe a couple of years. It hasn't been inspected or registered since 91.


I am spooked about one thing and that is that the oil pressure guage did not register any oil pressure at all.

I am going to go back and do a compression test this afternoon. I am also going to check that the oil pressure guage connector is connected and that the fuse is good, but beyond that I need a little help.

Obviously, I do not want to dismantle someone elses car in thier driveway, neither do I want to refit his car with a long term solution to the stock oil pressure guage just to verify the oil pressure.

So is there an easy way to temporarily and quickly test the oil pressure? Can I remove the oil pressure sending unit and screw in an aftermarket guage and check it out.

Thanks in advance.

 

Make sure the connection to the sending unit is good, clean and tight. They have a habit to become intermittant since they get covered in oil and crud.

It's safe to say that the car DOES have oil pressure, or the engine would not run for very long.

Yes, you can use a mechanical gauge. You need the appropriate adapter fitting, which I believe is 1/8" BSP-28 at the block.

 

Thanks, Aaron

 

Thanks, Aaron.

BTW, the car hasn't been registered since 2001, not 1991.