1980 oil pump
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 897
Likes: 244
From: Green Valley Ca
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 142
Likes: 6
From: Indianapolis, Indiana
What is your oil pressure now?
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
Drop the steering arm that runs under it by removing the two retaining bolts on the passenger side that bolts it to the frame. If it's an auto the cooler lines can stay but are in the way a bit. Starter can stay on too.
Then you can take off the pan.
Low oil pressure could be worn bearings .
It could also be a stuck pressure relief valve on your current oil pump. On my OEM pump the pressure relief valve, spring was too short and was constantly letting oil through which I'm sure reduced the oil pressure to some degree.
It could be a worn oil pump, but not likely.
Try running thicker oil like Mobile 1 20W50 and see if your pressure comes up. That would be the easiest attempt at recovery.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
That will certainly cause problems but 20psi hot at idle isn't bad. Have you tried a heavier oil? Like a 20/50w or a straight 40w. It's a temporary fix but it will easily get you through the summer and then you can do the engine as a winter project! Maybe even collect some good parts over the summer and build a separate engine?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
So you had a cam failure and didn't tear down the engine?
That's a gamble.
Could be you have small metal particles blocking the oil pump screen reducing your oil pressure. It's doing you a favor vs circulating those particles through the engine.
That's a gamble.
Could be you have small metal particles blocking the oil pump screen reducing your oil pressure. It's doing you a favor vs circulating those particles through the engine.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,652
Likes: 49
From: Bridgewater nj
A wiped lob will rarely produce anything big enough to clog the screen but apron repair, if someone was sloppy and dropped pieces of intake gasket and other debris down into the oil pan. That will definitely cause issues! Most of the time you'll have great oil pressure idling in the driveway. Then when you start driving, the slushing of the oil in the pan will pick the gasket pieces up and then they will get sucked to the screen. Shut the car off and they float back down to the bottom.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Just for discussion, the standard Chevy V8 oil pump will only provide about 15 psi (10-20) at idle when warmed up. It should supply around 50 when at highway speeds, but idle pressure is significantly lower [by design] so that you don't waste fuel on building unnecessary oil pressure when the engine is not working hard. If your oil pressure is similar to what I described, you don't have an oil pump problem.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If it falls off when you accelerate, either the filter by-pass is leaking off pressure or the pump is doing so. Change the filter and see what happens. If that fixes your problems, so be it. If it doesn't, repair/replace the pump. But, the standard GM pump will be fine for your car. Don't let "THE ZONE" talk you into the 'high-priced spread'. 