OK, I have been having unauthorized valvetrain noise for a few weeks.... due to my oil getting contaminated during some carb issues. Oil change the other day helped a bit. A few stalwarts suggested some ATF (1 pt) added to the oil to clean up possible varnish. This was improving things each driving....
Oil pressure throughout all of this has remained the same....

I figured today would be a good opportunity to change the oil again and haul assorted large pieces of cast iron to COPE BROS....as insurance if the 350 were to suddenly get worse.

Out there today, fire the Elky....look down, no oil pressure!:eek::eek:
I was most of the way into the garage so finished the maneuver and shut her down.

Checked things out
Long story short....bought a new oil pressure gauge and I have pressure showing.
Whew! False alarm!
Anybody else ever have a oil pressure gauge simply die?

Just when the plastic oil line comes off the back and shoots your oil onto the carpet:mad:

I had a few dribbles from the fitting on the gauge this afternoon...glad the new carpet was not in the car yet! I'd have really been pissed then!

I tested an unlimited light hydroplane years ago with a 509 BBC and at WOT blast doing around 140mph the oil light came on and stayed on. The engine was still pulling hard and at about 7000rpm, everything else looked o.k. but I shut it down right away. Found out someone did not clean out the Oberg filter in the off season and it was slowing oil volume. The pressure is supposed to be around 125psi when running and the sender for the light is 85psi, had to replace the bearings but got lucky on that one. Thought for sure I granaded a big $$ engine.

Had the electric gage in my 79 Chev drop to 0 and stay there.
No weird noises coming from the engine, but it sure startled me.
Drove it for another week 'till a new gage could be ordered from GM.
Replace the gage---back to 40---normal

If you don't have a gauge you don't need to worry anymore. I finally put an oil gauge on the WN for the Halloween Bash. 2 years with no gauge, then I put a gauge on it and hurt it. Hmm!

i went to get the 69 out of winter storage, checked fluids, cranked it over, no pressure, cranked it some more, still none, fire it up, no pressure, shut it down, didn't hear any valvetrain noise, so i fire it back up, still no pressure and no noise either, so i get out and go right for the oil pressure line, sure enough right at the firewall it's broke and puked oil all over the firewall and garage floor, o well maybe next month