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| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 10 | I have a 61 chevy p/u with 235 but just last fall bought a 61 chevy "car' with 235 and three speed. Wonderful ride. I had been told that it had been sitting in a garage for 20+ years. After I bought it I noticed that the solid lifters were making a little more noise than they should. Figured an adjust was in order after sitting so long.Removed the rocker cover and WOW, drier then an empty bottle of whiskey. It wasn't getting oil to the rockers at all (no weeping even). I removed the rocker assembly and cleaned the lines. Changed the oil, used 10w-30. Started the engine and had oil to the rockers but in about 4-5 minutes the darn "idiot light" came on. Turn the engine off and fire it right back up and again in 4-5 minutes the same thing.
Stewed and thought on it for a while and finally figured I would change the oil pump. Bought a new Melling oil pump and installed that. This time I used 20W-50W oil.
Yes, you guessed it. Idiot light came on in 4-5 minutes.
Changed all of the oil to 30W and still the same thing.
In all of this Idiot light coming on stuff there are no knocks or wierd noises. Engine just purrs.
I guess my next step is to put an oil guage to it and watch that. I have the oil guage ordered but heard of this place and figured maybe someone might know what exactly is the problem.
Thanks a bunch if you read this far and can make sense of what my problem is
Last edited by 61chevygal; 07/17/2009 8:07 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 78 | you're be on the right track. see what you really have with a gauge then trace it from there. from the sound of it there is probably some seriouse sludge built up in that thing. if that's the case, pull the motor, build it back to specs, learn a few things along the way, and have a good running motor. sixes are fun to build.
"The Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!"
Elanor Roosevelt
1966 c-10 stepside
1966 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 fleetside
1964 c-10 short bed
1964 c-30 flat bed
1964 c-60 dump truck
1968 Impala
1969 Nova
1971 Nova
1975 LUV
1976 C-30
1977 K-20
1966 SS El Camino
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,100 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 6,100 | Hy 61 chevygal, I thought that there was supposed to be a restrictor in the line to the rocker shaft somewhere, could you have inadvertantly eliminated that, and now the pump cannot maintain pressure? | | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 10 | I've rebuilt a couple of these 235's and never encountered a "restrictor", unless it would maybe be the head bolt that the oil has to go by to get to the rockers.
But all is well. I hooked up an oil gauge today and had it maintain 45 PSI at a low idle, warmed up good.
If you have more on the restrictor please let me know. You aren't by chance thinking of the by-pass valve in the oil pump, are you? | | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 99 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2009 Posts: 99 | Don't know this engine, but wouldn't you consider a sending unit on the idiot light to be bad?
Dave.
What's the last thing a red neck says, "Hey guys watch this."
What's the last thing a redneck hears, "Go ahead Bubba, you can do it."
Build plan: 65 Chevy one ton, 5.9L Cummins HO, NV5600 six speed, 2wd 1972-1987 IFS disk front, frame off restore/mod, custom dump/flat bed, Alcoa rims, Dana 70 3.73:1 duals drum rear, plush interior, Guards red with Marine Corps decals. Donor is retired 2002 Ram 2500, 194K miles.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 10 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 10 | Yes, with all things being "equal". But, the darn light had never come on until I changed the oil to 10W-30 and cleaned out the rocker assembly. And, then only after about 4-5 minutes of running, as though it may have been to light of oil, or the oil pump was going bad.
As it turns out, it was to my advantage to change the oil pump. The pan had a good bit of old sludge in it and the oil pickup screen was 75% varnished over.
At least now I can sleep at night. | | |
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