Oil Temperature Gauge(s)...so what do I have here? Options

[GregAmy]

I've got a '74 2L, 4742918315. Thing was a rebuildable basket case when I got it, been hacking away...today's task was the center oil temperature gauge: it doesn't work.

In reviewing the wiring diagram it appears that I should have a green/black wire running from the sensor at the bottom of the engine to a green/black wire in the center console. However, while I have the red/white and brown wires going to the gauge, the third wire is...white. I used a VOM to ring out the white wire, and it does not go to the sensor wire in the engine compartment.

But here's another odd thing: the car also has a fuel combination gauge ("silver button") with a temp sensor in it. In reviewing various pages on the web, I'm thinking that's not what's supposed to be in this car; best I can tell, this car with a center console oil temp gauge should have a blank area at the top of the fuel combo gauge.

- What do I have here? Is this a center console that someone added on? It has an operational clock and voltmeter (which sucks, by the way).

- If this is the case, what is the plug with the white wire supposed to be for? I don't see anything obvious in the wiring diagram, there's no voltage to this wire, nor does it ring to ground at all.

Stumped, but intrigued...

Greg

[Dave_Darling]

The oil light sender is next to the distributor. The gauge sender doesn't really fit in the area, so you locate it remotely with a grease gun hose and a couple of adapters, or with the kit which is basically a grease gun hose and some adapters. Ground the case of the sender if you do that!

In stock form, there should be a wire from the heater lever back to the heater blower relay on the relay board.

I replaced the gauge panel of my center console with one I cut out of MDF and glued vinyl onto, and used a hole saw to cut the appropriate sized holes for the aftermarket VDO gauges. (Note that the commonly-available ones are slightly smaller than the stock gauges!)

--DD