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| | | Joined: Apr 2022 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2022 Posts: 62 | When we tried starting my buddy’s rebuilt 235 a couple months ago, I removed the distributor and spun the oil pump with a drill to get some oil circulating, truck hasn’t run since ‘92! Anyways it built up really good pressure on the gauge but failed to start. We got back at it yesterday and it fired right up and was probably the smoothest runner I’ve ever seen but we shut it down after about 20 seconds because it failed to register any oil pressure
Any ideas or thoughts as to why this might be?
Thanks in advance
Last edited by 53farmtruck; 06/10/2024 2:15 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,761 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,761 | Are you relying on the dashboard gauge? If so, don't.
Install a temporary gauge under the hood so you can see what the true pressure is. You can also remove the valve cover and/or side cover to see if oil is flowing around the engine.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,761 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2021 Posts: 6,761 | I assume you drained the 30 year old oil and filled the engine with new oil. It's possible that old sludge may have clogged up your oil pump pickup but I doubt it.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | Are you sure the distributor was reinstalled into the block deep enough to turn the oil pump? It's possible to engage just enough of the camshaft gear to make the distributor spin without hitting the slot in the oil pump drive. Make sure you are turning the oil pump before running the engine again.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2022 Posts: 62 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2022 Posts: 62 | All great ideas!!
I hadn’t considered the distributor not going deep enough to engage the oil pump, I’ll report back next time we play old trucks!! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2023 Posts: 103 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2023 Posts: 103 | As Jerry indicated the most likely cause is the distributor not being installed deep enough to drive the oil pump. It is a very common issue. Do not ask how I know.
1954 Chevy 1300 engine 235 (1959)
1955 (first series) Chevy 3100 engine 261 (1957)
1927 (other brand) Model T- engine 327 (1968)
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2020 Posts: 1,959 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2020 Posts: 1,959 | I kinda like having the clear pressure line. That way you can see the oil rise and fall.
My oil pressure is around 12-15 on the stock gauge. With middle being 30.
~ BD.
"You won't find me in an old folks home" Pioneer Florida Cracker
1958 Apache Stepside
1958 Apache 1/2 ton Panel
1959 Apache 1/2 ton Panel
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