Big Red Light to replace Clock in Dash

[msailer]

I need help trying to locate the right parts.
I'm looking to replace the clock in the dash with a big red light, which will get tied into the same circuit as the Oil Light.
I have seen this at many DE events on cars, but no one seems to know where to get or what the parts are.

The closest I have gotten was on a PCA Race Car.
The light and rubber gasket was from GROTE. I got a picture, which I will post later, but no parts numbers.

This should be no more than $10 worth of parts, light and mounting rubber for a trailer. Several Race shops have offered a solution ranging from $80 to $150 for the light.


Once I do this the clock will be For Sale, if anyone needs one.

TIA
Mark

[Plavan]

There was a shop selling these oil lights for $80.00 in excellence.... That is a joke. You probably will not find the rubber gasket but this is what I did.
I had a broken clock (or a broken fuel gauge will work to) so I removed the internals. I then went to an auto parts store and found a round trailer light that fit inside the clock shell. I added length to the wires and connected them to the oil pressure light wires.... Very easy to do and looks great. It only cost $5.00.
Here is a picture when I was installing everything again in the race car. Looks and works great.
They also offer that RS clock plug now... You may be able to rig something up to that.

[GeorgeK]

If you want to stay "Porsche", use a 356A rear light, in a repro clock plug.

[rsr808]

I thought that big light was used as an upshift indicator light... what's the purpose of having it connected to the oil light? What type of "warnings" are you getting when it lights up?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

No, upshift-indicator lights are small and aimed at you, like on the glareshield. The big red light is intended to unmistakably say, "You just lost all your oil pressure, bozo."

Stephan

[Plavan]

Oil pressure is the life of the motor.... Red light=turn off motor.... FAST! When racing alot of things can happen, you can loose and oil line, a fitting can come loose. In the heat of the moment you will never notice the stock small light if the oil pressure drops. With the big light you will never miss it.

[msailer]

Yes, that is why I want to do this. I attend a number of DE events during the year and generally you don't spend more than a few seconds on the front straight checking gauges. Big light will definitely be an attention getter.

The other change that has been recommeded it to put an adjustable oil pressure switch in place of the stock unit, Then it should be adusted so that the Light should flicker when the motor is hot at idle.

[CHILI]

Originally posted by Plavan
There was a shop selling these oil lights for $80.00 in excellence.... That is a joke. You probably will not find the rubber gasket but this is what I did.
I had a broken clock (or a broken fuel gauge will work to) so I removed the internals. I then went to an auto parts store and found a round trailer light that fit inside the clock shell. I added length to the wires and connected them to the oil pressure light wires.... Very easy to do and looks great. It only cost $5.00.
Here is a picture when I was installing everything again in the race car. Looks and works great.
They also offer that RS clock plug now... You may be able to rig something up to that.

So, it was a whole light assembly, or just the lens? If it was just the lens, what did you use for the light and reflector backing?

[TerryBPP]

Why don't you just hook the oil light up to a kill switch that automatically shuts the engine off?

[Plavan]

Chili-
When I bought the light at Kragen auto parts it was complete with backing. Nothing else needed. I just screwed it into the clock housing and the fit was good. You probably could use double sided tape also.
Chad

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Because there will be times, on the track, when suddenly and unexpectedly having the engine killed might be worse than other courses of action that one might take in response to a no-oil-pressure light, for one thing. You always want to be in control, literally and figuratively.

Stephan

[dad911]

I used a trailer light cut to fit in an old dead clock.

[304065]

The great thing about the low oil pressure light is that it serves as an instant accelerometer. You know you are braking at close to 1g when the light comes on!

Every time I watch my racing videos my light is blinking on and off in the braking zones. Makes me cringe! This winter-- baffled oil tank!

[msailer]

Here is a picture of a dash with a GROTE light.
This is what I'm looking for.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Why would a baffled oil tank help? The only oil-pump pickup point is in the sump.

Stephan

[dad911]

Originally posted by john_cramer
......

Every time I watch my racing videos my light is blinking on and off in the braking zones. Makes me cringe! This winter-- baffled oil tank!

John, I had the same problem. A later model oil tank solved the problem.

[DanS911]

Engine kill switch connected to the oil warning light might make it kinda hard to start the car.

[makaio]

Originally posted by msailer
Here is a picture of a dash with a GROTE light.
This is what I'm looking for.

Go to a "Big Rig" truck parts store. We use those same style lights on 75% of our fire engines.

[rsr808]

Something like these:
http://www.grote.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?familyid=B0001
http://www.grote.com/cgi-bin/product.cgi?familyid=J0024

The have other goodies on their website to choose from as well:
http://www.grote.com/

Hope this is what you're looking for.

[Gunter]

Dan: I was waiting for someone to remark on the kill switch for the oil pressure.