12 volt oil pressure and temp sending units?

[busmania]

Where can I find sending units for oil and temp in 12 volt? I’m hitting a wall. Thanks!

[fordor41]

on our '41, I picked up gauges in a junkyard from a '70s ford pick-up. the 12v gauges fit exactly in our 6v '41 gauge housings (both gauge movements look exactly the same). used a voltage reducer either ford or aftermarket. operated perfectly. trick maybe finding older ford trucks. also found in big trucks

[5851a]

The same gauges will work all the way up to the 85 Mustang. I did a 50 that way. Just don't use the amp gauge, you can keep your original for that.

[busmania]

But what about the senders? Still use 6v senders for water temp pans oil pressure?

[JayChicago]

There are no 6 volt or 12 volt senders. There are 6 volt or 12 volt gauges. Senders just work with the gauges they are designed to work with.

If you are using original 6 volt gauges in a car now running 12 volt, you will put a voltage reducer in the power line feeding the gauges.

[paul2748]

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Be aware that starting with 1957, the gauges were six volts. Ford used a reducer to use these gauges with a 12 volt system. I don't know what year this stopped. The reducer is readily available.

You must use the sender compatible to the gauges you are using (meaning the same year sender as the gauges).

1956 gauges (1st year Ford went to 12 volts) were 12 volt, no reducer required, then went back to 6 volts in 57 with the reducer.

[fordor41]

Originally Posted by busmania

But what about the senders? Still use 6v senders for water temp pans oil pressure?

when I got my gauges from the junkyard I also got the senders from the same vehicles. sorry, I forgot those!

[Mickd]

Busmania, like a few of the blokes here said - you'll need the voltage reducer from a 12 volt Ford - (not a 56) found mounted behind the gauges. Alternatively you can use an electronic 12 volt to 6 volt reducer. All the senders are electrically the same inside.
I've put a layman's explanation of how they work somewhere on the forum here (search my posts).
Oil, temp & fuel senders use the same bimetal strip technology in the sender units and the gauges. Just need that 'reducer'.
Have you converted to 12 volts so that's why you're asking? or have you got a crook gauge ?

Mick

[Mickd]

Originally Posted by paul2748

Be aware that starting with 1957, the gauges were six volts. Ford used a reducer to use these gauges with a 12 volt system. I don't know what year this stopped. The reducer is readily available.

You must use the sender compatible to the gauges you are using (meaning the same year sender as the gauges).

1956 gauges (1st year Ford went to 12 volts) were 12 volt, no reducer required, then went back to 6 volts in 57 with the reducer.

Paul, internally the 6 volt senders are all the same animal and it shouldn't matter what year they came from , unless externally they don't fit. BUT... I've been wrong before!

[Mickd]

Just went over to the HAMB & had a look at your build Busmania.
Do you realize just how lucky you guys are to find a 40 in such good original condition ?! They rust out p retty badly down under over the years.
And you're doing a fantastic job with it. Good for you. Awesome !

[busmania]

Thanks mickd. I bought it one year ago tomorrow. Lots of progress!

[busmania]

Is there a way to test old senders? I actually have 4-5 used temp senders and two oil pressure senders. Do they go bad?

[Mickd]

Originally Posted by busmania

Is there a way to test old senders? I actually have 4-5 used temp senders and two oil pressure senders. Do they go bad?

Well, yeah, they can go bad. Especially the fuel senders. Probably because there's a little more going on mechanically with the fuel sender.
The only way to really test the senders you have would be to find another dash cluster, with fuel, oil and temperature gauges, and set it up on the bench with a 6 volt power source - something I haven't done yet, but should do.
Positive to one side of the gauge and negative to the gauge body (or cluster body)
Then you have to work out a way to heat the temp sensor. Perhaps hang it in a container of hot water. You'll have earth connected to the body of the sensor & a connection from the terminal on top to the other side of the temp gauge.

It's a bit messy. I could waffle on and confuse all of us... if you've got a bit of electrical knowledge it helps.
I think I might write up an article on these gauges and post it up in the tech section of the forum because questions about early Ford gauges seem to crop up a lot - and there's a l ot of confusion about how they work.

I'll let you know when I do.

Mick

[Mickd]

On second thoughts... I won't do that article. These Ford King Seeley fuel, temp & oil gauges have been done to death all over the Fordbarn forum. If you search for Ford fuel gauges, or Ford fuel sender etc, there's lots of descriptions by some knowledgeable folks. A lot of blokes are a bit confused as to how they work, but persist, and with a bit of research and you'll find all the answers.
If you're still confused, post up a question again. You're bound to get lots of answers.


Cheers


Mick