Interested in hearing how this worked out !   

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]If you disconnect the sender, does the gauge go down?
If you ground the wire to the sensor, does the gauge peg out?
If both of these "tests" make the gauge peg in both directions, then the gauge and wiring itself is probably OK, and you need a sender...and yes, you can get one at yer local NAPA, or Chebby dealer. [/QUOTE]
1st question- No.
2nd question-Yes, jumps from just above 80 at about 2:30 to about 3:30 when car is started. Did the same thing no matter what I did.

Should I just try changing the sender anyway?, $35.99 in stock at Napa.
Or I could beat it with a hammer, that usually works in the construction field.

[QUOTE=Jeffm]
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]If you disconnect the sender, does the gauge go down?
If you ground the wire to the sensor, does the gauge peg out?
If both of these "tests" make the gauge peg in both directions, then the gauge and wiring itself is probably OK, and you need a sender...and yes, you can get one at yer local NAPA, or Chebby dealer. [/QUOTE]1st question- No.2nd question-Yes, jumps from just above 80 at about 2:30 to about 3:30 when car is started. Did the same thing no matter what I did.Should I just try changing the sender anyway?, $35.99 in stock at Napa. Or I could beat it with a hammer, that usually works in the construction field.[/QUOTE]

When you grounded the sender wire, did you do it while it was disconnected? (single TAN wire)
Also, you don't need to start the engine for these checks, just turn the key on.
IF the gauge reacted the same way, no matter what you did, then...you're either checking the wrong wire(), or there is a problem in the wiring from the sender to the gauge.

There may be an issue with the circuit board for the gauges...


btw...the hammer trick won't work on this one. Adams' Apple2007-05-30 20:04:31

When I first got my Vette, the oil PG acted eradictly. 

Sat. morning and off to Napa to see if a new sender does the trick. Stop at Micky D's for my free coffee which aint free anymore. Probably because the summer folk with money are starting to trickle back in. Go to pull into Napa and guess what???   Yup, I look down and the oil gauge is right where it's suppose to be. Stop and start the car a few times and it seems to be working fine. Maybe playing with the wire connection, or better yet, the threat of the hammer did something. Well, at least for now the $36.99 + tax will stay in my pocket, or better yet go into the gas tank. That'il get me a few gallons.
Thanks for all the advice and input on this. I didn't even know where to look for the thing when I started.

I replaced mine and it worked for a few days and then took a dump.At first it was acting very strange.Jumping all over the place.Replace it worked good now nothing.Could be a connection thing I haven't been back under there yet.

Hmmmm...threats of repeated beatings with a hammer have been known to do some good...
Maybe the moving of the wire/connector did it...keep yer fingers crossed!

I just fixed the oil pressure gauge problem on my 76. The gauge was pegged with the ignation key turned on and retured to zero with it off. I purchased a new sending unit from Corvette Central, bolted it on and the gauge then read 40 pounds pressure with the engine running. Very simple fix for my car. 

A few days after I replaced the sending unit on my 82, the pressure dropped and stayed at 20- 30. I removed the new sender and found a little glob of what looked like teflon tape that had blocked the little hole on the sender. I believe this teflon was from the PO's attempting to fix a leak at the sending unit. The new unit came with a teflon like coating on 2/3 of the threads. So, maybe make sure you have no globs in your sending unit. No more problems since the glob removal.