C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

She left me stranded!

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Old May 19, 2007 | 02:02 PM
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Default She left me stranded!

When I was leaving work yesterday it seemed my gauges were not working. So I proceeded to make my way home. Then I noticed the temp gauge moving ( just a little. Since tuning the computer my temp stays at a little above 185). My volts guage was in it's usual spot. The oil temp and pressure gauges were still flatlined. So I started to hear tapping. I was on the side of the road in 2 seconds after I heard that.
Now I seems very apparent that my oil pump is gone. There are no fluid leaking from my engine. There was no smoke/steam coming from the engine nor was the engine unusually hot. I did a search but I could not find an R&R for the oil pump.

95 LT1 If anyone has a proceedure I would appreciate it.
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Old May 19, 2007 | 02:09 PM
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wow, Joe... that sounds not good.

have you checked the oil level?

If there is one thing I can say, the GM oil pumps are well made. I would be really shocked if the pump failed. Considering the lower miles your car has.

Has the oil pan ever been removed? It would lead me to wonder if the pickup fell off... it does happen.

Changing the pump is easy, really. drop the pan, replace pump... 3 hours, tops.

But I would check the oil level first.
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Old May 19, 2007 | 02:40 PM
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Hi Andy,

It seems weird to my too. I did not check the level yet but I was planning on it when I went outside ( in 5 minutes ). Was fine on the way into work.

Anyway, Is any engine liftin involved to get the pan off?
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Old May 19, 2007 | 02:42 PM
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AND If the pick up tube did fall off how do you keep it from doing that again?
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Old May 19, 2007 | 03:08 PM
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no engine lifting... just remove a lot of little bolts (after draining the oil of course ), cranking the engine a about 1/2 turn (manually is best) and the pan will drop off.

I use the FelPro gasket.

To keep it from happening again, if in fact the pickup DID come off, is to tack weld it to the pump.

The pump is held on by two large bolts. It will just fall down from the block. The pumps drive shaft should be retained inside the block.

If your motor lost all that oil that quick, it would be a mess... ick.
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Old May 19, 2007 | 03:53 PM
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I'm not really familiar with LT1's but I know they have a lot of fail safes put in the computer to keep the engine from blowing up. If your oil pump did fail its possible that the computer picked up on the loss of oil pressure and shut down the engine to keep it from going bye bye.
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Old May 19, 2007 | 04:05 PM
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Unfortunately low oil pressure will not shut it down. Another possibility is that the mounting ear has snapped on the pump drive. This is accessed by pulling the intake, not that difficult on the LT1. It's a crap shoot and your choice whether you want to pull it or the pan first. Of course I'm assuming it's full of oil and the filter is not plugged or has collapsed. A clogged pick-up is another possibility.
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Old May 20, 2007 | 12:25 AM
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we will find out tomorrow... I am heading down in the morning.

wish Joe luck!!!
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Old May 20, 2007 | 06:42 PM
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I just got back from Joe's...

It doesn't look promising. The engine has been rebuilt. Beyond that...

It has a Melling M155HV. The caps have been stamped with cylinder numbers.

The pickup screen had a chewed up spray straw in it! Along with gasket material and a piece of threaded plastic something. But none of it was enough to kill oil pressure.

I am resistant to break a main cap off at this time. I suggested he remove the intake and check the oil pump drive. That could be very telling.

The heads look rather dry - oil wise.

At this time, I feel there are more questions than answers at this point.
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Old May 21, 2007 | 10:34 AM
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It hit me last nite... the oil temp would read nada because no oil was passing buy it. duh.
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Old May 22, 2007 | 11:18 PM
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Hi Guys, Andy,

Sorry, been lolligaging the last couple of days continplating maybe a C5.

The thing is is that I like my vette. I picked up a new pump at Comier along with the pan gasket and the intake gasket. So, what I am going to do is check the main bearing. Make sure that isn't cooked. If it looks okay I am going to put the bottom back together. Then I am going to pull the intake and check the drive. If that looks okay then I am putting everything back together. Throw in some new oil in it. Then I am going to drive around my block 30 times If the engine goes then its a call to vette2vette and new engine time.

Joe
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Old May 23, 2007 | 12:39 AM
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Keep me posted!!!
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Old May 23, 2007 | 03:25 AM
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How do you know the oil pump is bad? Is there a way to spin it with it on the motor, like on a Gen-1 block? or does it require pulling the intake?

At the very least, stick the pump in the oil pan off the car with some oil in there and spin it by hand to see if it's actually the cause. There's no point going to the trouble of installing a new pump if there's still a blockage in the system.

What does the oil filter look like?
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Old May 23, 2007 | 10:46 AM
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There are a lot of uncertian things here...

first off, with the LT1, the intake has to come off. There is no choice.

secondly, I don't think the pump is bad. I am concerned that the oil pump drive is. It's a counter gear that is bolted to the inside of the V, where the distributor would be, if it had a conventional unit.

The heads were dry. I would expect puddling or something, but short of a sheen, there wasn't any sign of oil up there. The rockers (I could see and touch) were sticky dry to the touch... not a promising feel.

the pan and pump are off... the engine has most certainly been rebuilt. It has numbers stamped on the rod caps and the oil pump is a Melling M155HV.

I already suggested cutting the filter open. There seems to be a lot of splashed oil on the counter balance weights.

It sucks... but I am afraid that the counter gear failed, or, a main has failed. It is possible that the oiling system was blocked, considering the crap we found in the oil pickup screen.
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Old May 23, 2007 | 11:57 PM
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I'll cut open the oil filter on the weekend for chits and giggles. I have a feeling she is going to wind up on Ebay. I am really feeling a C5 Z06 but when I put it back together and it is circulating again and running strong then I may stay on board with her.
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Old May 24, 2007 | 12:08 AM
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Don't saw it open. punch a hole in it and use tin snips. This way you won't fill the filter with metal shavings, so if there is metal in there, you'll see it. Flow goes from the outside towards the inside.
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Old May 24, 2007 | 12:14 AM
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Good point. I was going to use a drummel. Thanks.
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Old May 24, 2007 | 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by jserio
Good point. I was going to use a drummel. Thanks.

Maybe you can use a can opener around the base of the filter?
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