Oil Pump Install Question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Royal Oak MI
Oil Pump Install Question
I was just wondering if I should replace the oil pump when I do the timing chain and balancer, since everything is off of the engine.
When installing a new oil pump do you need to mess with the distributor to engage the pump with the dist gear? I don't really want to mess with the dist. I have also read all of the threads about replacing the pump but have not seen anything describing how to engage the shaft with the dist.
Thanks
When installing a new oil pump do you need to mess with the distributor to engage the pump with the dist gear? I don't really want to mess with the dist. I have also read all of the threads about replacing the pump but have not seen anything describing how to engage the shaft with the dist.
Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 28
From: Long Beach CA
If you're tearing it down that far to replace the timing chain, it's cheap insurance to replace the oil pump. It's not that hard, one bolt. You don't have to do anything to the distributor. As you're putting the oil pump back in place, spin it's driveshaft with your fingers until it locks to the distributor shaft, and bolt the pump in place. You'll see how it all works as you remove the old pump.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
Unless it is all worn out I would not replace it. The oil pump castings sold today are not as strong as the old one on your car now. If the current oil pump does not give you any reason to replace it, I say "why tempt fate?". You know yours is a good one and you might not get a good replacement. If it works - don't fix it.
Just my opinion.
-Mark.
Just my opinion.
-Mark.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 585
Likes: 0
From: Royal Oak MI
Yes, the motor is still in the car. I think it only has about 70K on the motor but you can't ever be sure right. It did not run for quite a few years but who knows.
The water pump was original as well as all of the gaskets. I had the water pump rebuilt and just figured I would redo the timing chain while everthing was off the front of the engine.
I figured I would also replace the pan gasket and do the oil pump. I had not heard of new oil pumps being crap, what does everone else think.
The water pump was original as well as all of the gaskets. I had the water pump rebuilt and just figured I would redo the timing chain while everthing was off the front of the engine.
I figured I would also replace the pan gasket and do the oil pump. I had not heard of new oil pumps being crap, what does everone else think.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Baker Florida
If you bolt on a new pump you will also need to make sure the new oil pump pickup screen is not too close to the bottom of the pan. I like to leave .375" between the bottom of the pan and the pickup screen. The pickup screen is a press fit into the pump housing. You can pick up one cheap at the parts store or you can reuse yours if u clean it. If you dont forget just take a tape measure and measure between the block surface where the oil pan gasket goes and the pickup screen before you remove the pump from the block. Install the new pickup tube at the same location.
I just installed a new timing gear drive on my car this weekend. Look into getting a one piece oil pan gasket. I paid 25 bucks for mine. I used it on my install and was inpressed with the fit and function. No leaks!
Later
Aaron
I just installed a new timing gear drive on my car this weekend. Look into getting a one piece oil pan gasket. I paid 25 bucks for mine. I used it on my install and was inpressed with the fit and function. No leaks!
Later
Aaron
Last edited by raceman17; May 13, 2008 at 05:35 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
I haven't heard anything negative about modern pumps. I would go ahead and replace it. Stay away from the high volume pumps however. LB66383 is right - there's nothing to it. Just make sure to measure the position of the pickup as raceman17 said and put it back in the same position. If you forget to do that, you'll be doing the silly putty method which is kind of a pain. I also tach welded the pickup tube to the oil pump housing to make sure it doesn't pop out or move.
Last edited by sperkins; May 13, 2008 at 09:32 PM.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Disassemble your present pump and look it over carefully. Mark the gear set so that you can put the gears back in with the same orientation they had. Check the gears and the pockets for any scoring, surface wear (surface 'polishing' is fine), or any pitting on any surfaces. Check journals for wear and bearing rollers for damage. If all looks good, clean it all out, reassemble it and put it back in. Install a new seal on the filter pickup tube. It should be fine. Don't throw money at a "potential problem" [another pump] when you have one you know has worked properly and shows no distress.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,429
Likes: 44
From: Macon, GA
You could always scribe a line on both the housing and the pickup tube so you know the correct position and take it to a muffler shop. I doubt they would charge you anything to do it as it only takes about 4 seconds. But...remember that the tube is a press fit and GM never welded them in place from the factory so it really probably is a little overkill.
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 1
From: Baker Florida
What I did on a couple of my oil pumps (even though i have a tig and a mig welder) was take the cover plate off of the pump and drill and tap treads for a small set screw. Clean out the metal shavings and press the tube into the pump and them tighten the set screw into the pickup tube. Works great too with no heat.
I have not had any problems with the pickup tube falling off with this method. I do this on all the motors I build for my circle track dirt race cars.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 397
Likes: 0
From: Warren IL
If you tack weld the sump on make sure you remove the spring from the pump first. If you don't you can damage the spring and you won't have much or any oil pressure. I found this out the hard why back when I was in high school.
