[racingswim2006]

Are you stuck with the gauges you have? Why not just run another brand/type of gauge for these important engine-health signs (especially on racing applications!)?

The center "stack" in my GTV6 has been ditched (the factory fuel, oil press, and water temp gauges), as have the sending units. A composite panel was fabricated and now houses 4 autometer gauges (each with its own autometer matching sending unit) and each with its own warning light. Now I don't worry about unreliability of sending units AND WITH the easy to read, big warning lights and orange needles as a safety bonus. Don't have photo currently but can get one. It's sweet.

IF I were you, I would run a small copper tube or braided line from the hard to reach places on the engine (in the V, side of the block, or whatever) to an easy to reach location (get creative - a local Giulia TI race car has the sending unit mounted on the firewall), and then mount the sending unit THERE for oil pressure (gauge or light). This way, at least, you can play around with thread pitch, gauge type (VDO or Autometer or whatever) and sending unit much more easily without contorting the cursing from the hard to reach spots.

If you want to do guesswork, I wouldn't do it with Alfa senders and gauges cross-years and cross-applications that are known to be fail-prone. Do it with a purpose designed part up to racing use/abuse that is accuracy proven if you aren't hell bent on keeping stock gauges.