Hey guys,
I have a 76 chevy 350 / jet drive. Off the oil pressure guage is a small diameter plastic tube. Halfway back to the motor there is a connection where the hollow plastic tube connects to solid (copper?) wire. Is the normal? The solid wire is not connected to the sensor at this time......
That's not a wire, it is a capillary tube....IMHO you may be better served by an electric oil pressure gauge...

If you do decide to stay mechanical, replace the entire length with a new length of nylon tubing and armor it with some lager tubing (like what you buy for your ice machine).
Hope this helps...Meanwhile, don't start the engine with the copper tube loose in the wind, it will drip oil everywhere....

GT