Triumph Repair: oil pressure switch, oil pressure gauge, oil pressure switch

Question
Hi Jim,  Thanks for you response.   I apologise, I should have included the detail that it does indeed have an oil pressure gauge in the dash.
By the time I got back to my friend, he had already tried the 'trial & error" method, and the gauge is working, so I guess all is well that ends well.   
In the mean time.  I am getting to live vicariously throught my friend.   He is just now discovering for the first time the joys of spitfire ownership.   and he is every bit as in love with this car as I was with my first spitfire.   I am really happy that I could sell it to someone who would truly appreciate it.   Of course, now that I am all moved and getting settled into my new local, I suppose it's time to start looking around for my next one.   I'm in Florida now,   it would be a sin to not be driving a sports car!-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi Jim!

I think I asked you a question a few months ago and got some good advice.   This pertains to the same car.  It is a 1975 Triumph Spitfire, completely stock. I recently had to move out of state and sold it to a friend.  Along with the car I also gave him all of my parts catalogs and the repair manual.. He just called me saying that he had replaced the starter and in doing so he had to remove "that little plug under the distributer with 3 wires going to it."    I assume it was the the oil pressure switch.   Anyway,  he did not mark which wire went to which clip on the switch and now isn't sure what to do.  There are 3 of them so I guess he has a one in 6 chance of getting lucky...
Do you have any suggestion for me to try to talk him through re-hooking it up, on my cell phone,  2,000 miles away, with not even a shop manuel for me to look at- let alone another spitfire?
If he does hook it up backwards, or wrong,  is it going to cause any harm?  or can he just use trial and error?  I've never been too keen on trusting chance and fate when it comes to that lucas wiring dontchya know.
Don't ask me why he felt he needed to replace the starter already, it was working fine when I sold it to him.

This ought to be fun anyway.
Thanks in advance,  Mark Bowles
Answer -
Mark,

I've got to admit, you've had me scratching my head (and consulting all my repair manuals, and checking the cars in the barn)....

The factory oil pressure switch only had a single wire.  It was a pure "idiot" switch that would light the lamp on the dash when oil pressure dropped too low.

Does the car have a oil pressure gauge?  An aftermarket oil pressure gauge sender might have 3 connectors on it.

Or if you want to play 20 questions with the friend, here are some ideas to help narrow it down:

1)  what color are the wires involved?
2)  what type of connector is on the end of each (1/4" spade terminal, etc)
3)  Where do the wires extend to (wrapped wiring harness, ?)

If the car has an electronic ignition, either the original Lucas or aftermarket that might be the wires in question.  But at least the factory setup was in a plastic connector block which I hope he wouldn't pull apart completly.

Hope this helps


Cheers,

Jim  

Answer
Mark,

I'm glad to hear it worked out afterall...

As to filling that Spitfire shaped void in your life, keep an eye on the classifieds at www.vtr.org and www.nasshq.org.  There are other websites that may have cars available, those are just the two I have on the top of my head at the moment.

The only caution is that it's well worth being able to see any prospects in person.  There are honest sellers who don't understand the cars, and sellers who are maybe a bit less than honest about things like rust, etc.  And every once in a while someone who wants to see the car go to a good home so you get a great deal.

Good hunting!


Cheers,

Jim