Vitesse Mk2 Oil switch position

[terryj]

I have never posted to any forum before so hope I get this right!  I have a Vitesse Mk1 based Gentry fitted with a 2 litre Mk2 engine. I am in the process of fitting another later Mk2 engine which I have rebuilt. My problem is the position of the oil warning light switch and oil pressure gauge Tee. On all pictures I have seen of this engine in manuals and elsewhere the switch and Tee are screwed into the oil gallery port above the oil pressure relief valve, just below the distributor but on my old engine it was screwed into the rearmost port of the oil gallery, between the fuel pump and the rear engine plate.  The capillary tube to the oil pressure gauge and the electrical connection to the warning light are therefore both too short to reach the switch when fitted below the distributor. This is a pain but not insurmountable of course. However, I never had any problems with oil pressure readings or oil warning light operation on my old engine over the past 17 years and 23,000 miles so does it matter if I fit these connections in the rearmost port again? Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

Another problem arose too in the change from the old to the "new" engine. I wanted to transfer the Mocal spin on oil filter adapter to the new engine. It obviously needs new O ring seals but it appears that my adapter (bought from TSSC Shop many years ago) is different from the current versions. Mine has a centre O ring (see pic.) but the current versions have a flat ring seal so I have been unable to find any seal kits which provide the O ring I need. Does anyone know where I can obtain the correct O ring please?

 

[Pete Lewis]

The gallery is full length of the block doesnt matter which tapping you use,

the centre one is prefered but its not essential.

 

Ask garth in club shop, yes there are two generations with differing o rings

pete

[JohnD]

To answer your second first. I have a Mocal adaptor like yours. Originally it came with a thick and a thin O-ring, with some BluTak to place in the joint, compress and determine who h to use. A local motor factor may be able to sell you the right O-ring.

 

The location of the oil pressure takeoff is where the warning light swit h usually is. A recent thread here writes about using the point your old engine had, claiming that the pressure measured there was a better estimate of that at the bearings.

 

The longer wire is easy to achieve, and a supplier of gauges might sell you a !o her tube. It's your choice!

 

Good luck!

John

[Guest]

Hello.

 

Some photos for the thread re the OPS on a Mk2 Vitesse.

 

Regards.

 

Richard.

[terryj]

Pete, John and Richard

 

Many thanks for your very prompt comments and advice. I will think I will revert to the rearmost oil gallery port to fit the switch and tee piece and will check with Garth at the Club Shop for the Mocal O ring.

 

Terry