Using original MGA gauges with Buick 215

[Richl705]

I would like to use my original 58 MGA gauges with my Buick 215 conversion on my MGA.  Obviously, running into some issues with the dual water temp/oil pressure gauges.  I am using a D&D large volume water pump and the original water temp sensor is too long to fit inside (not to mention the threads dont line up but can work around that.)  The oil gauge is a wet system and I am trying to figure out how to make that work with the original oil line from the gauge.  Where do you source the oil pressure?  Hoping someone has already dealt with this issue.  Thanks

[jimbb88]

My 1966 MGB has the original dual gauge hooked up to a 4.0 Rover, and was originally used with a 215. The car is off Fullerton Road in Newington. You can take a look tomorrow morning, if you like.

Jim          301 213 2680  'till 11:00 PM, after 7:00 AM

[Richl705]

Would love to.  I will send you a PM

[BlownMGB-V8]

There's a brass fitting the temp sensor will screw into that seats it properly and has the right threads for the manifold. I don't remember where the one I have came from but they are definitely available as an off the shelf part. For the oil you can drill and tap one of the plugs on the oil pump housing.

Jim

[Bill Young]

Richard, you can get gauge sender adaptor fittings from most any source that sells aftermarket gauges. All you need to know is the thread size in the head or manifold where you want to mount it. Here's an example in the Speedway Motors catalog. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Water-or-Oil-Temperature-Gauge-Capillary-Tube-Adaptor-1-2-Inch-NPT,7198.html
The MGA tach is a cable drive unit, if you don't have the cable drive feature on your distributor then I'd suggest installing an electric tach from an early model MGB which can be modified to work  with a V8 pretty easily. The main difference is that the MGB gauge will be a Smiths unit and the MGA gauges should be Jeagers so the faces won't match. You could use all the MGB gauges in place of the MGA units so that everything would match.