OK. Here's the rundown for those who might not remember: There is no oil pressure registering at the sensor hole when the engine is running. When it is running, no oil even comes out of the fitting even if it is left open, with no gauge or sender in. When I take the distributor out and spin the pump with a ratchet, pressure builds up on the mechanical gauge or squirts all over the place. It also comes up through the rocker arm like it is supposed to. There isn't any kind of lifter tap or anything when it is running.
I just put new main and rod bearings in, and plastigaged them. They were a little on the loose side but within spec. Also went thru with a brush and compressed air to try to clear out all of the oil passages. They seem clear.
The oil pump shaft looks good, and engages well in the dizzy. I have another dizzy, and put that in thinking it could be the problem. No oil pressure then either. It's a new stock replacement Melling pump. There are no visible problems with it. The pressure relief is moving like it should, and I used the gasket when putting the pickup back on. When I first put it in this summer, there was plenty of oil pressure. After a couple of months, though, I noticed that the pressure wasn't even registering. I was only a quarter mile away from home, so I went home quick. I tore the motor down and found a main bearing with a deep scratch all the way around it. This was the only visible damage.
Since then, I've put the motor back in twice. The first time I goofed up and didn't notice that the engine did not want to turn over. I had put all the rod caps on backwards. Figured that problem out, and just put the motor back in. It is a pain to do this by myself, let me tell you.
So, any suggestions? I was thinking about getting another oil pump, but that is 50 bucks I don't have right now. I'm starting to get real sick of dealing with this thing. I don't have the knowledge to blueprint the pump that I have to make damn sure it's within spec, but it does pump when I move it manually.
I just put new main and rod bearings in, and plastigaged them. They were a little on the loose side but within spec. Also went thru with a brush and compressed air to try to clear out all of the oil passages. They seem clear.
The oil pump shaft looks good, and engages well in the dizzy. I have another dizzy, and put that in thinking it could be the problem. No oil pressure then either. It's a new stock replacement Melling pump. There are no visible problems with it. The pressure relief is moving like it should, and I used the gasket when putting the pickup back on. When I first put it in this summer, there was plenty of oil pressure. After a couple of months, though, I noticed that the pressure wasn't even registering. I was only a quarter mile away from home, so I went home quick. I tore the motor down and found a main bearing with a deep scratch all the way around it. This was the only visible damage.
Since then, I've put the motor back in twice. The first time I goofed up and didn't notice that the engine did not want to turn over. I had put all the rod caps on backwards. Figured that problem out, and just put the motor back in. It is a pain to do this by myself, let me tell you.
So, any suggestions? I was thinking about getting another oil pump, but that is 50 bucks I don't have right now. I'm starting to get real sick of dealing with this thing. I don't have the knowledge to blueprint the pump that I have to make damn sure it's within spec, but it does pump when I move it manually.