I just got a Buick Skylark custom with the 350 back in July, and I've finally started to pull it apart, and unfortunately I pulled more sludge than parts out of it. It was ticking and not getting oil to the top of the motor when I got it, so I rebuilt the oil pump and cleaned the hell out of it. I put everything back the way it was, but now I'm not getting any oil pressure and it wont prime. I've tried to turn the gear with a drill, squirted oil into where the filter screws on and where the oil gauge connects to the block. I heard about putting Vaseline into the oil pump, and I haven't tried that yet, and I also heard that this motor might need the distributor in to make a seal and make pressure. No one I know really knows about the Buick 350, so I've been reading on here and hopefully someone on here can help me.
Buick says to pack it with vaseline,,, some engines will prime up with just engine oil in the pump and some will not... best to pack the pump with vaseline.... I dont think that having the dist. in will make any difference.... are you turning it in the right direction???? remove the oil filter and pour it full of oil before you start....
Yeah I turned it both ways to make sure. I'll pack it with Vaseline, couldn't hurt. Anything to make it work, I really don't want to have to pull the original motor :/
Make sure you have the proper gear end clearance, about .002 using the correct cover gasket to achieve. Then after the proper end clearance has been established, remove the gears, pack the cavity with Vaseline, install gears, wipe off the remaining oooozing Vaseline, install your gasket that made your gear end clearance .002 install the pump cover, then oil filter Rotate the pump drive gear with your drill CLOCKWISE. The distributor does not have to be in place. If all is good, you should establish oil pressure in a few seconds. In other words, the Buick oil pump IS NOT just a "slap it together and go" deal, it has to be "set up" properly.
I'll definitely try the Vaseline. I pulled the oil pan (had to undo the motor mounts and lift the motor to pull it out) and it was a little dirty. Not as bad as the valve covers, but the screen was clear.
Check that little o-ring for the pick-up tube while you have it off. Don't ask me how I know and I won't have to lie........
So I packed the oil pump with Vaseline, and still no oil pressure. I turned it clockwise, and made sure the clearance was right. Still nothing. Sucks because I wanted to try and keep the original motor in it, but I think this motor has thrown the towel in.
doesnt make sense....the pump is a pump and will work.... take the thing apart again and put it back together, must be something simple because it will pump none the less ..maybe low pressure but it will pump
You either have a blockage in the pick up tube or it is sucking air from somewhere. It doesn't mean there is any problem with the engine tho.
Where's the pick up tube? Behind the screen? I'll check that, had enough sludge that I wouldn't be surprised.
No matter how bad the engine wear, there is no way it can have no oil pressure if the pump is working correctly..
Also be sure that the pump cover gasket has (2) rectangular holes in it. The gasket should look like the one shown on this page: http://www.gesslerheadporting.com/gesslerheadporting/ghp.nsf/GHP-7341!OpenPage
A oil pump is a positive displacement system and as such is very simple.... about the only thing that can make it fail completely is the shaft shearing, or the clearances being too tight and it starts galling and scoring....even if the bypass sticks it will pump some.... Ford has one of the best pumps in the business and I saw one of them blow out the welch plug in the oil galley[ 5/8 inch hole] and still hold 10 lb of oil pressure....I am like the others,,, there is something else wrong,,, the pump is sucking air... or the pick up tube is clogged,, or cracked at the flange... or the tubing to the gage or the gage is bad,, something ,,, aint right.... even if the pump is not fitted up to the block right , and that may be,,, it should be getting some oil thru it... did you submerge the pump in oil and rotate it to see if it pumped, before it was installed???? If the oil galley in the engine block was completely plugged the pump should bog down to the point the drill motor would barely pull it, if at all.... and the same if the system was all right.... pull the oil pressure sending unit out , then turn the pump and see if oil comes out there... if not, start tearing down untill you find the problem... look for a blockage some where or a hole in the system that lets it suck air.... In all my years of messing with engines, I can count on one hand the engines that have failed because of the engine oil pump.... most times it was the shaft that broke or usually, people let the engine run out of oil....
I believe he has a 350 Buick and this test is for chevys and nailheads; and perhaps other engines with the pump mounted in the oil pan.
Yep,,, I thought I had edited that out,,,,, I caught it and then still let it get by me when we left for church..... :Brow: yep, ford engines, nailheads, jeeps, chebbys,,,,ou:
