1968 911 gauges ?

[Greg D.]

A good friend just bought a 68, base model, not L or anything.
The car runs crazy hot per the gauge, I'd say 250-280 when my car barely hits 180 following him... but the gauges related to oil pressure, temp, are 912 style. They look like those of my 68 912 anyway.
No oil pressure gauge at all, no oil level either, just 912 style: fuel, temps and a red bulb for pressure.

Was that a possible spec for a 68 ? I've never seen a 911 without an oil tank level or pressure gauge. Those might be useful figuring out why it runs so hot, apparently... The car was also low on oil by 1.5 qts and the left side heater hose blocked off. Some exhaust popping too...

[rgrimm]

I'm afraid that's all that came on a "normal." You basically had fuel level, with a LARGE low fuel warning light below, and an unmarked temperature gauge with a handbrake/brake warning light below and alternator/oil pressure warning lights to the sides.

[Greg D.]

Thank you ! So, extra points question, this being essentially a 912 gauge (I have the same in my 68 912), will it take a 912 sender in the engine or was it recalibrated at the factory to take a 911 kind of sender? Anyone know for sure what's what on a 68 "base" 911? We are questioning the accuracy of what we are seeing vs boiling water, IR gun etc... But it still seems to be overheating, despite oil, timing check, carbs adjustments...and shooting the IR gun at every engine part that flows oil.

[gsjohnson]

Here's a pic of my 68 911 Normal with the S gauge option as listed on the COA.

[AlexJ]

Just to add some info to the topic that I think might be usefull:
(text received from someone on another forum when I asked a similar question)

A 1968 911T should have the black/white with orange pointers and black bezel with glass face.
These use the screw-clamp and barrel nuts on the back (until ’70 model).

A ‘68T would come standard with ‘non-S’ instruments.
These would have a fuel level gauge and low fuel warning light (no oil level) for the left instrument.
The ‘combination instrument’ would have only a temperature gauge, brake warning light (no oil pressure gauge) but a low oil pressure warning light.
The tach is standard but with 911T redline.
The speedometer and clock are standard.

The 911S instruments with oil level and pressure were optional.
With ‘S’ instruments, the oil pressure warning light was deleted.

[Greg D.]

Externally those are 100% similar to a 68 912 set of instruments. Are they ? And which temps and pressure sender do you use with those simpler instruments then ? A normal 911 unit or that of a 912 ?