Thread: Roger's LARS Mis-Adventure 2014

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This has been a real interesting study in persistence, Roger. Probably frustration too from your standpoint. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

I thought about that ring being a gasket spacer, Roger, but when I saw your dimensions, I thought it was too small. I'm glad you found it all.

Jack, in my haste I misplaced the decimal on the dimensions, 0.390" OD and 0.290" ID and 0.050 thick, a spacer for a 1/4" bolt. You'd have probably guided me to the source if I'd posted it right.

To close the loop, after a couple of stutter steps with the distributor I lit it off this morning, got the timing set and played with the idle stop adjustment a bit and it seems to be just fine. It holds a strong 25# of oil pressure at hot idle, and at 3000rpm holds a strong 50#. It sounds stronger than it was before the incident, due I'm sure to the fact that cylinders 6&7 had vacuum leaks due to the intake gasket splitting at the corners. The Good Lord was my Co-pilot Saturday, and quick action on the loss of pressure saved the engine. One new standard volume oil pump, two new lifters for #1 cylinder, a new pump drive shaft, some gaskets and an oil change plus a few days of frustration. Could have been sooooooooo much worse...

Originally Posted by rspears

Jack, in my haste I misplaced the decimal on the dimensions, 0.390" OD and 0.290" ID and 0.050 thick, a spacer for a 1/4" bolt. You'd have probably guided me to the source if I'd posted it right.

To close the loop, after a couple of stutter steps with the distributor I lit it off this morning, got the timing set and played with the idle stop adjustment a bit and it seems to be just fine. It holds a strong 25# of oil pressure at hot idle, and at 3000rpm holds a strong 50#. It sounds stronger than it was before the incident, due I'm sure to the fact that cylinders 6&7 had vacuum leaks due to the intake gasket splitting at the corners. The Good Lord was my Co-pilot Saturday, and quick action on the loss of pressure saved the engine. One new standard volume oil pump, two new lifters for #1 cylinder, a new pump drive shaft, some gaskets and an oil change plus a few days of frustration. Could have been sooooooooo much worse...

You are so right,Roger..It could have been far worse.. Glad that you have found the cause of that oilpump seizure..I have never seen an oil pump drive twist like that before..Quite startling.. It would look good polished up as a trophy,mate.. .. Hey,,if ya drive through the night,,you might catch up with the rest of the Grey Beards..

Originally Posted by rspears

The Good Lord was my Co-pilot Saturday, and quick action on the loss of pressure saved the engine.

Could have been sooooooooo much worse...

There was someone holding your hand alright!

That is very good news indeed.

When I first read of this incident I promptly thought the worst, and that you'd be looking at a complete engine rebuild; but quick action on your part by shutting everything down and opting for a piggy-back ride home, although embarrassing and annoying/frustrating, saved the day.

I'm really pleased for you mate!

You should chromium plate that drive, mount it in a frame, and call it 'My Hard Luck Trophy to Myself.'

And it's no good you buying a lottery ticket this month; you've used your quota of good luck!

I'll chime in with my .02 personal experience with a 302.

The pickup looked a lot like yours, and the screen had a hole in the middle which presses against the pickup bottom. I cleaned the pickup to re use it, as I had always done, and got a tad rough with it and popped the screen in, exposing the hole.

Well I popped the screen back out, thinking I was fine.

Apparently, once they pop in, they will do it again under regular operating conditions.

I found this out, the same time I found out that I missed a piece of nylon from the cam sprocket. The pump seized, and the dizzy pin sheared.

A lot of guys with ample rebuild budget will automatically replace the pickup, and a lot of people reuse them. But, if the screen gets popped in, It's trash.

Originally Posted by lamin8r

.I have never seen an oil pump drive twist like that before..Quite startling.. It would look good polished up as a trophy,mate..

If you Google 'small block Ford twisted oil pump shaft' you'll see photos of dozens. It's apparently not an unusual problem with small block Fords.

Originally Posted by Henry Rifle

If you Google 'small block Ford twisted oil pump shaft' you'll see photos of dozens. It's apparently not an unusual problem with small block Fords.

Probably why my engine builder has told me to get a heavy duty one for the 347W.. The 302 in the truck was reco'ed about 20 years ago,,and is still all stock throughout,,apart from a very mild cam..I think I will leave it alone until I need to do a rebuild.. hehe