The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop running without oil ?

Suppose a hypothetical situation that one installed the distributor in his 235, but didn't get the "tang" into the slot on the oil pump; bolted the distr down, the then drove it to the end of the driveway before he noticed nothing registered on the oil pressure guage. If the engine ran for a period of 5 to 7 minutes without the pump working, how much damage has been done?....any thoughts ? For the record, the engine had been ran (with oil) the day before the distr was replaced, so things shouldn't have been "bone dry"

dublenaught,

I think you would suffer moderate damage (accelerated wear) to the main and rod bearings. They would get the benefit of splash, but not from any pressurized pumping.

My question would be, will the distributor drive gear mesh with the cam gear if the drive tang isn't in far enough to turn the pump at all? Could this scenario actually happen?

If this did take place, it either didn't hurt the engine, it added 10,000 miles of wear to the engine, or it set the internals up for subsequent knocking, banging, diminished oil pressure and failure. Run it and see how lucky you were.

Stuart

IMO it is prolly fine(unless your hypothetical driveway is very steep or very long), most well broken in engines can run w/o oil for a time if not under load. I remember a old Step-van, was driven 20 miles or so to our shop w/4 rods hanging out of the oil pan, & still ran up on the lift-it had no oil or coolant except for what remained in the bottom inch or two of oil pan that was left. Dan started it & we all looked at it, was neat to see the crank going round, pistons going up & down. A visible V8.

dublenaught - I don't like to brag about it but I did the exact same thing to my 54 one time when I changed the distributor. I am happy, and very lucky, to say that I have not had any serious problems - that was 5 years ago. As stated above - if it isn't banging and clanging you probably got away with it - for now anyway!!!!!!!!!

OK....what is the best way make sure that the tang is in as I need to install my Langdon's HEI and the "tang seating" problem seems to be a on going problem. Is there a way to make sure it is seated before lighting the engine off. Inquiring minds want to know......Steve

OK guys thanks for all the input....yes, it did actually happen. You know, you can adjust the vacuum advance mechanism on the distributor up or down - I mean literlaly, it can be too "low" on the body of the distributor, and apparantly the gears will still mesh, but the tang will be slightly short of engaging the drive on the oil pump.....this is exactly what happened to me (yes....embarrasing, to say the least)...I just rebuilt this darn engine....When I get the timing set properly, I'll re-post with some info on what she sounds like. As for steve's question, yes..it is difficult to tell if the tang is engaged. Just make sure the dist gets all the way in there - in may case, the best way for me to tell was to loosen the advance mechanism, slide it way, way up...push, check, push, push, re-check. fIre it up, and see if there's oil pressure.

THe way I do it is set it down in the right possition & with a light pressure on the dist. turn the engine till you feel it drop in.

Cranking an engine with the starter should develop some oil pressure. If you are worried about starting the engine without the oil pump being engaged you could check it out by pulling the wire from the coil and cranking the engine till you see oil pressure.

Case closed. My local mechanic got her purrin' like a kitten. There is no obvious damage that is notable upon startup, idle, and revving. I haven't driven her yet.....I'm sure the lack of lubrication didn't help any, but for now, I guess I got off lucky.

In just dealt with this as well when re assembling a rebuild. I simply took a measurment from the bottom of the oil pump slot to the mounting face point . Then adjusted the ring on the distributor accordingly giving a little allowance for depth variation and there it is.

Another advantage to the stomp start, you don't have to have the ignition on to crank the engine over for oil pressure.

Back in the 40's my dad was a mechanic and I remember him telling us about sales men for motor oil addatives who whould pull in the garage with a pan set up with a quick drain. they would drain the pan and take the guys out for a ride around the block to prove the benifits of their procuct.
If you only drove her down the drive with out oil pressure I would doubt if you did much damage. A film of oil will coat the parts for a little while till it gets hot and is hammered out. If you started it dry that's another story.
Denny G

Dublenaught,
is this the engine that had the knock and you found a broken lifter? I have been looking for the end of that story.