Would like help identifying a part

[mental1896]

I got an Eagle a few months ago and this is the car that is teaching me all about engines and engine repair (mostly the latter). While poking around, I noticed a plug that goes into the passenger side of the engine block and I am unable to identify what it goes to. Does anybody here know what this plug is for? As you can see, the clip is broken and when I first grabbed it, it was loose.

[Baby Eagle]

Thats your OIL PRESURE SWITCH! 
Not yelling or making fun of you just wanted answer to stand out!

[mental1896]

Awesome. Thanks for the info.

[IowaEagle]

Good spotting there BE.

[carnuck]

It's actually a combination oil pressure and choke switch. It allows power to the choke to open it only when there is oil pressure. When they go bad, the choke closes and you have all sorts of running issues (like driving with the choke on constantly. You get about 3-9 MPG)

[mental1896]

Why would they group the oil pressure gauge and the choke switch together?

I put in a new carb this weekend and discovered that there was no power at the choke. We ended up bypassing it. The housing on the gauge I have is broken so I have it taped on, but there's oil everywhere so it's barely hanging on. I wonder if that has something to do with my choke power being dead.

[vangremlin]

Why would they group the oil pressure gauge and the choke switch together?

I put in a new carb this weekend and discovered that there was no power at the choke. We ended up bypassing it. The housing on the gauge I have is broken so I have it taped on, but there's oil everywhere so it's barely hanging on. I wonder if that has something to do with my choke power being dead.

Yes, you are correct, if the clip is not making good contact, your choke won't work.  I pulled that connector off the oil pressure sending unit, and then couldn't figure out why my choke would not open up when the car got warm.  I too ran another power source to the carb. 

[BenM]

Why would they group the oil pressure gauge and the choke switch together?

So that the choke doesn't open if the engine isn't running. If someone were to have the key in "run" and be listening to the radio then try to start the car there would be no choke without that switch.

It also activates the electric under-carb heater and the heater draws a lot of current, think glowplug. If that were allowed to run without the alternator going it could drain your battery pretty quickly.

[mental1896]

This is the first time I've heard about the under-carb heater. What sort of problems might one encounter if that heater isn't functioning properly or isn't running at all?

[IowaEagle]

They had manifold heaters, but I also have not heard of one for the carb.  That may require a search of the parts manuals in the Den's AMC Eaglepedia.

[mental1896]

Thanks for the lead... found it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_fuel_evaporator

http://amceaglesden.com/guide/index.php?title=Section_12%2C_Manifolds_and_Carburetors

[BenM]

They had manifold heaters, but I also have not heard of one for the carb.  That may require a search of the parts manuals in the Den's AMC Eaglepedia.

Sorry, that's what I was talking about. I couldn't get the name right in my head.

[carnuck]

Some of the Iron Dukes may have had the mesh interlaced carb base gasket that heated up.

Like this one.

[mental1896]

Does anybody know the part number for that plastic clip intended to hold the oil pressure switch connector in place? Only after ordering a new connector did I realize that the clip doesn't appear to be included in the package.