Direct pressure oil gauge installation

Has anyone run an oil line from the engine up to a mechanical gauge on the dash ? Looking for best route for the oil line. My oil pressure switch failed early on the trip to Carlisle so I'd like
to install a real pressure reading gauge. One option is don't run a live oil line from back to front, mount a live gauge beside the engine and leave the idiot light to set off the alarm. I have a Tee to run off the engine port. Any ideas? Thanks...

I used to run a mechanical oil pressure gauge in my Corvair, back in the day. Same long distance problem for oil line routing. I installed tubing of maybe 1/8 diameter that came with the gauge. Too small for the job! When you started the engine, the gauge stayed at "0" for maybe 10 seconds waiting for all that cold, viscous oil to respond to oil pump pressure. Then, suddenly, the pressure literaly jumped up to 40 psi or so and it seemed to function well after everything heated up to normal.

My point - use at least 1/4 inch tubing if you do this.

David, Many gauge companies make excellent electric gauges. I have used VDO and Auto Meter gauges and their accompanying senders for years with excellent luck. It's a lot easier to run a wire than a tube filled with oil. Besides, if the wire breaks then you only have a non working gauge until you repair the wire. If the tube breaks then you have oil gushing everywhere, loss of oil pressure and a whole bunch of other problems.

Pretty easy to use dual electric senders too - one for the gauge and the stock VW one for idiot light. Just need a T fitting.

I used a braided teflon line AN6 from the engine to my dash through the tunnel. I purchased the line on EBAY, it was a Nitros oxide line already made up for a v8 car and cost $25.00 . It is large enough that if I lose pressure for any reason the guage responds immediately. It worked out so well I installed the same setup on my VW race car. Mike McCarthy