New Build, No Oil Pressure Om Pre Lube!

Discussion in 'Small Block Tech' started by CanadianBird, Apr 3, 2011.

  1. CanadianBird

    CanadianBird Silver Level contributor

    A fellow that has been building engines for a very, very long time. He is 68, you would never tell looking at him. Very good reputation, often used by Old Cars magazine for technical support. Built my brothers Mustang, had a 455 BBB in the shop that he built, tuners have discovered him and he doing eng mods for them, get work from across the country. However, no one is perfect.

    Devon,

    I was able to see the oil galley plug on the passenger side.That was the one I was worried about. It's just a regular plug as suspected. At this point, just trying to narrow what comes off, the pan or the frt cover.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2011
  2. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    Provided the gap measured was between the straight edge and the pump body, he should be fine there- but if the gap was measured between the straight edge and the pump gear, then that pump will have excessive gear end float after the pump body gasket is installed....

    No resistance in the pump while trying to prime= excessive clearance in the gears, or a leak/obstruction in the oil pickup path to the pump.

    Oil galley plugs and everything else downwind of the pump cannot be causing this, because the pump would pump oil regardless of whether the oil galley plugs were installed or whether every one of them was missing!

    If the pump clearance was measured properly, and the booster plate, gasket & oil pump cover is installed properly and packed with Vaseline, then there has to be a problem with the line down to the oil pan- I say pull the pan and inspect for an oil pickup gasket!
     
  3. Big Matt

    Big Matt Well-Known Member

    I'm having a hard time believing that a pick-up tube gasket could cause this problem. I realize it could affect oil pressure, but I think you'd have to be running gear lube (ie very high viscosity) to have this gasket missing and get absolutely no oil flow. You have two flat machined surfaces mating - the pump should suck the oil as long as the oil will flow. You might suck a bit of air at the pick up tube to block surface, but you should still get a good bit of oil too.

    I'd pull the timing cover first as it's much easier than the oil pan with the engine in the car. Might as well try the easy stuff first.
     
  4. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    The suspense is killing me!!!:Do No:
     
  5. Fox's Den

    Fox's Den 355Xrs

    Pulling the timing cover would be the easiest to do, even though that will be a pain. But at least you will know if there is something blocking the flow. Then you might be able to put a hose on the port that draws the oil out and try to pump the oil out by hand with a hand pump.

    I guess this is why you try to prime the engine with oil Before installing the engine in the car. Keep this mind fellow Buick enthusiasts.
     
  6. CanadianBird

    CanadianBird Silver Level contributor

    I overfilled the crankcase by 7 litres/quarts. Then spun the drill, nothing. Decided to remove the thrust plate, I had some spare oil pump gaskets from past engine work. My builder used a regular pump gasket and not the gasket that should be used with thrust plate. Put it back together, spun it again, I have the filter off, Oh joy, I have oil coming out of the pump, but only a small stream and it's foamy. So, either the oil I added has worked it's way down into the pan, or it's working. I take pump apart again, pack it vaseline, fill the filter, spin the pump, nothing. Remove the filter, spin the pump, foamy oil, light stream, I assume if I hit the jackpot it should want to come out like a garden hose, right?

    I think I am going to remove that pan. Should be interesting with those baffles tacked in there.
     
  7. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    You're sucking air.

    It should be coming out harder than a garden hose:laugh:
     
  8. CanadianBird

    CanadianBird Silver Level contributor

    CAUSE IDENTIFIED: You know the old saying..."there's light at the end of the tunnel!". Here is one place where I did not want to see any!!!!

    1. When you have a boroscope inside of an oil gallery, you do not want to see light in your crank case.

    2. If you have light in your crank case, you do not want to see light when you peer into your oil passage!

    Builder wanted to ensure no passages were chamfered where they intersect, he drilled too far, they pierced the oil passage.
     

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  9. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Sherlock Holmes would give you his hat, pipe and a pat on the back. Glad you found the root cause of the problem. It'll be interesting to hear about suggested repair options.

    Devon
     
  10. hwprouty

    hwprouty Platinum Level Contributor

    Wow! At least you can get on with swapping blocks I'd think? PITA but now you know! I'll sleep better tonight!
     
  11. sean Buick 76

    sean Buick 76 Buick Nut

    OMG, I guess you need to take the engine back to the builder!
     
  12. CanadianBird

    CanadianBird Silver Level contributor

    Will be repaired with fusion weld (new process?), they repaired the outside part of my rear main cap using the same method, if this was a high stress area I would not accept that . Yes Sean, I have to pull the engine and return it in order for them to repair it. I should be able to do it in half the time! At least it is resolved. I am stubborn SOB when it comes to route cause, I always want to know why.
     
  13. Poppaluv

    Poppaluv I CALL WINNERS!!!

    How much $$$$$$ are they gonna return. I figure YOUR TIME, and energy is worth as much as his labor rate........:TU:
     
  14. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    Who woulda guessed???? Glad you finally identified the problem, and glad they can fix it! :TU:
     
  15. Big Matt

    Big Matt Well-Known Member

    Keep us posted on how the repair turns out.
     
  16. CanadianBird

    CanadianBird Silver Level contributor

    I hauled the engine out after dinner last Tuesday, Wednesday it was at the builders, called him on Thursday...

    They will need to preform complete teardown in order to repair the block. Gasket kit on order.

    I live in a city 2.5M, 5.5M if you include GTA. No one can find me a damn distributor gear for my 300CI!!!!! :Dou:
     
  17. 64SkyConvert

    64SkyConvert 1964 300 ci

    I ended up buying a whole "rebuilt" distributor from Napa Auto Parts and pulling the gear off of it. I know I have seen them for sale somewhere.... but cannot find them right now. I'll keep looking.
     
  18. DaWildcat

    DaWildcat Platinum Level Contributor

    Won't the 350 points distributor gear work on the 215-300-340 also?

    Devon
     
  19. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

    If it will I'm pretty sure I have a gear in fine shape.. Free for shipping. If I can find it..
     
  20. jay3000

    jay3000 RIP 1-16-21

    Sent you a gear..
     

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