Greetings Stovebolters
I have a 1958 261-CID inline in my 1954 3100. When I first fire it up my pressure gauge registers around 15#s. What bothers me is it doesn't show much at all on the gauge after I run it a bit and its warmed up. I had a guy down at my local parts store tell me that an oil pump either works or it doesn't work - no in between. I am having a hard time believing this. What the possibility that my oil pump is failing. The engine doesn't burn any oil and the engine produces 130-135#s compression when I tested it. It is a used engine I lucked into.
I would appreciate your comments
Walt Williams
La Verkin, UT
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It turned out to be a bad oil pump. I made this determination after finding out that there is a pressure release valve on the oil pump and after checking the the #2 main bearing with plastigage and found I have .002 clearance. The truck now maintains a solid 30#s while cruising, and after the engine is heated up it will still drop down while waiting at a stop light but not to zero and it no longer starts making bizarre noises while waiting for the traffic light to change. This behavior matches my 54 Chevy sedan.
Thanks for all the great tips.
Walt Williams
La Verkin, UT
Photo of Franky, my truck
