Oil Pump Time?
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From: Woodstock, GA
Oil Pump Time? I've noticed recently that my oil pressure idles at 25, drives 40-50 psi. It used to be 40 at idle and 60 on the highway. In the last year, I've switched to synthentic blend (valvoline) and the last oil change was 10w30 whereas I've always used 10w40 ... .which plays into it some ... just don't think as much as a loss of 15-20 psi from how life used to be.
I've got 280,000 on the clock - which pretty much answers the question. I will change the chain and gears and motor mounts while I'm at it.
I've got 280,000 on the clock - which pretty much answers the question. I will change the chain and gears and motor mounts while I'm at it.
Aren't you getting close to a full rebuild at this point? If you are measuring your oil pressure by what the gauge behind the steering wheel tells you, I would not trust it at all. (even on a 280K engine)
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From: Woodstock, GA
Good point about the gauge.... a good test mechanical gauge might be in order .... although the drop was a fairly sudden change. I think the drop is a combination of using 10w30 (I never have used that light weight before), and as you said probably time for a rebuild. I'm adding one quart of oil between oil changes (every 3k). This is my DD so I'm going to just take it down for a week starting tomorrow and change the pump, chain and while I'm there the motor mounts, and while I'm down there the starter with 2 long bolts, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, axle seals (and possibly bearings).... and clean the heck out of all of it too.
This is my DD so I'm going to just take it down for a week starting tomorrow and change the pump, chain and while I'm there the motor mounts, and while I'm down there the starter with 2 long bolts, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, axle seals (and possibly bearings).... and clean the heck out of all of it too.
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From: Woodstock, GA
A couple of questions ... should I replace the oil pan gasket? If I were only doing the pump, I'd be inclined to just try to crack the pan enough to get to the pickup tube and re-use the gasket. Since I'm doing motor mounts as well, maybe I should hoist the engine from the top and do the pan gasket while I can. Also should I get a timing cover gasket set as well?
You could probably get away without changing them but... it's probably (probably-definitely) worth the extra few bucks to get new gaskets to save you the agony of having to replace them later. (Including the oil pan gasket if you can get the oil pan out and clean things up.)
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From: Woodstock, GA
You could probably get away without changing them but... it's probably (probably-definitely) worth the extra few bucks to get new gaskets to save you the agony of having to replace them later. (Including the oil pan gasket if you can get the oil pan out and clean things up.)
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From: Woodstock, GA
Teardown Underway Well I'm in the middle of the tear down. I'm really really taking my time too. My `79 Firebird has become my daily driver. 4speed and cammed ... not gonna be fun in rush hour traffic when I go back to work next Tuesday. I may be done with the work.
I've hit 3 brick walls so far ... pretty typical I'm sure. The crank bolt wouldn't break loose until I heated the bolt then it broke loose with the impact wrench. The second was getting the balancer off. My cheesy most-likely-chinese brand puller wasn't up for the task. I wound up grabbing the puller from AZ - the Chrysler one. Even still I had trouble. I had to thread into a socket (on crank) with the puller because I ran out of range using the longest rod in the kit. The last wall was that damn rear bolt on the coil pack (R side). I got it but there were some expletives involved. I know that's not part of the oil pump job - but I'm doing valve cover gaskets, starter and motor mounts as well.
A couple of questions:
What is a good brand of spark plug wires to go with?
I was hoping to pull the oil pan. Will I be able to lift the engine (from above) high enough to drop the pan?
Lastly, I keep telling myself this is my daily driver because I'm right there where I could cam it up ... go with headers .....etc.
I've hit 3 brick walls so far ... pretty typical I'm sure. The crank bolt wouldn't break loose until I heated the bolt then it broke loose with the impact wrench. The second was getting the balancer off. My cheesy most-likely-chinese brand puller wasn't up for the task. I wound up grabbing the puller from AZ - the Chrysler one. Even still I had trouble. I had to thread into a socket (on crank) with the puller because I ran out of range using the longest rod in the kit. The last wall was that damn rear bolt on the coil pack (R side). I got it but there were some expletives involved. I know that's not part of the oil pump job - but I'm doing valve cover gaskets, starter and motor mounts as well.
A couple of questions:
What is a good brand of spark plug wires to go with?
I was hoping to pull the oil pan. Will I be able to lift the engine (from above) high enough to drop the pan?
Lastly, I keep telling myself this is my daily driver because I'm right there where I could cam it up ... go with headers .....etc.
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From: Woodstock, GA
Finally Finished!! Well it took me a month but I finally finished last night. I really only had one day per week to get it done.... so it was slow go.
I swapped the oil pump with a Melling 10295, rollermaster double roller timing chain, Prothane motor mounts, oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, MSD wires and truck starter. I also had to redo the PCV system ... which I fabbed up some stuff that will outlast the stock setup.
Oil pressure today showed 40 at idle and 70 on the highway. Pretty happy to be back on the road.
I swapped the oil pump with a Melling 10295, rollermaster double roller timing chain, Prothane motor mounts, oil pan gasket, valve cover gaskets, new spark plugs, MSD wires and truck starter. I also had to redo the PCV system ... which I fabbed up some stuff that will outlast the stock setup.
Oil pressure today showed 40 at idle and 70 on the highway. Pretty happy to be back on the road.
Last edited by TA_Freak; May 19, 2015 at 10:01 PM.