The '84 model only has a single oil pressure switch, located
on the left side of the crankcase situated between the pushrod
tubes for the cylinder 3 & 4 intake pushrods.  You must remove
the pushrod shield before you can access the area.  I recommend
the VDO dual pressure switch which provides a signal for the
electric pressure gauge as well as the switch for the idiot light.
It is, however, too big to fit between the pushrod tubes, so it
is necessary to buy or make an extension hose to mount the switch
in a remote location.

The dual pressure switch system didn't come in until the 2.1 liter
engine, in '86, I believe.

BTW, I found that VDO makes a nice oil temp sender which fits
perfectly in that second oil pressure location.  It is the 300 degree
sender in the 16mm X 1.5mm size.  It fit perfectly, and is short
enough not to interfere with oil flow.  Since I'm retrofitting
an '84 model with the 2.1 engine, I don't need that pressure switch,
so found that it is a useful place for the temp sender.  Now
here is the tip... You can convert a => '86 model back to a single
pressure switch system by grounding the second switch wire.  Then
just replace the original switch with the new temp sender.  Note that
the original switch is a 10mm but is actually in a sleeve reducer
that is the 16mm OD size.  You'll need to remove both the old sender
and the adapter sleeve before fitting the temp sender in its place.
And, if you ground the old pressure switch wire up at the dash cluster,
(I think it is pin 12), then you can use the existing wire to connect
to your temp gauge, without having to run a new wire!

Bill Knight
Raleigh, NC

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@vanagon.com]On
> Behalf Of Earl
> Smith
> Sent: Thursday, October 29, 1998 11:38 AM
> To: vanagon@VANAGON.COM
> Subject: oil pressure: where?
>
>
> The Hayes manual identifies two sources of oil pressure
> reading.  One is
> where the pressure transmitter is presently attached at the
> back of the
> engine.  The other is a point under the oil pump on the front
> of the engine.
> Which is the preferred location for attaching a
> direct-reading oil pressure
> gauge?
>
> TIA
>
> Earl from Sunny Sooke, B.C.
>  At the tip of soon-to-be-overloaded-and-sink Vancouver Island
> 84 ex-California Westie
>