Thread: Oil pump shaft install

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Question for you engine builders:

I just installed a new oil pump and shaft on my 454. I was about to rotate the engine upside down in it's stand to install the oil pan, when it occurred to me the the shaft will fall out the top...(duh) What should I do here?

A) Install the pan from below.

or

B) Rotate the engine and re-install the shaft from above later... Not sure if I will be able to drop the shaft right into the plastic connecting sleeve on the pump if I do this.

I was thinking that a little rtv on the tip of the shaft, pump and the connecting sleeve might work to hold it in place for a bit. Due to the way my hoist chains bolt to the block, I had no plans to install my intake until after the motor was in the car, so throwing the distr in temporarily is not really an option.

The pump drive snaps in to that plastic sleeve, it won't fall out. There's a groove and ring setup that holds them together, otherwise the shaft could come up a bit and fall into the pan any time the distributer was removed. Bummer!

I did not know that about the groove, when I initially took this engine apart, the shaft fell right out onto the floor when I rotated the motor. I did notice the old sleeve was cracked though. thx pope