I recently re-did the interior of my 71 with reflectix, carpet, seat foam/covers, and new USA 630 stereo and new speakers.

On my test drive I noticed the oil pressure went to zero and it was smoking....Made it home to find a huge puddle of oil on the garage floor. I figured I pumped most of the oil out so I added a quart and started it and saw oil gushing from under the distributor. Ordered parts to rebuild the distributor, installed and started. Then I discovered the real problem. I guess somehow when I had the gauges out I must have pulled on the oil line and it was broken off at the block. Replace that line today, and now when took for a test drive it won't shift out of first, and when you get up some speed it acts like it is in neutral. If I stop it will take off fine and reverse also works. ALSO... The oil pressure gauge is showing very minimal pressure. It only moves off 0 when you raise the RM to about 2500. My guess is it is pumping oil, and has an obstruction somehow.

1. Could all that oil that was pumped out and ran down the back of the engine and trany have gotten on something causing it to short out or anything?

2 Could it be an vacuum issue?

3. Could I have overtightened the compression fittings on the oil line creating an obstruction?


ANY THOUGHTS PLEASE.

 

If you drove the car with the oil pressure line disconnected you most likely pumped all of the oil out of the engine is short order. If you continued to run the engine without oil it is very likely that you caused damage to your bearings. Low oil pressure is a definite symptom of worn bearings.

If I were you I would not start that engine again before inspecting all of the main and rod bearings.

I'm not sure about the transmission issues, but it would be a good idea to go ahead and have the transmission checked out while the engine is out being rebuilt.

 

Well, when you got back home the first time, how much oil did you have to add? IF it was one qt. then your fine with the engine, if it was 4 qts then a problem. Is your car an automatic or manual? If auto, check the vacum hose leading to the tranny, mabey you accidentaly pulled off. This will not allow proper shifting. Good luck Al

 

I purchased a cheap oil pressure gauge from my local Auto parts store and hooked it up...35 # of pressure while idling. ALL IS GOOD. Going to mount that down by the hood release temporarily because I don't want to take the center consul and dash apart AGAIN!

The Vacuum line was disconnected from the vacuum module on the trany. Replaced short vacuum line and ALL IS GOOD!.

De greased the under carriage with 4 cans of Gunk and washed the vehicle.

Was getting a little stressed yesterday .....ran out of time.

ALL IS GOOD!!

WIFE IS HAPPY, CAN DRIVE HER TOY TOMORROW!!!

 

Wow. Totalled the engine upgrading the interior. That may be a first. Sorry to hear that.

 

It was beginning to look that way!