Vette sat too long?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
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From: Southern Md
Vette sat too long?
I have a 94 lt1 that has sat for over 8 years and when I turn it over I have no oil pressure at all while cranking.I just put 6 qts of new oil in it and put a direct pressure gauge and nothing. Any ideas about this/.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 408
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From: Elkton MD
Sat too long
If you changed the filter and did not prefill it with oil, it will require a lot of cranking to fill it and the pressure won't build until it's full. I don't know on 'modern' engines, but there used to be a pressure bypass valve in the filter adapter housing. It may be stuck open. It's a lot easier to evaluate than removing the pan.
Good luck and please post when you resolve the lack of oil pressure.
Good luck and please post when you resolve the lack of oil pressure.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
Likes: 0
From: Southern Md
Thanks IRA . I remember that oil bypass on the filter housing adapter too, if your filter is clogged it would bypass. I f I remember, been a while, if the valve in the pump is stuck open the pressure would be non existent and if stuck shut you would have very high pressure blowing off filters and gaskets. This engine has not been started since 2000 and I can imagine this being only one of the first problems, such as injectors.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 134
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From: new albany mississippi
start that bad boy for a few seconds. Wick it a couple of times. See what happens. Trust your mobil1. You'll have to pull the motor to fix a stuck bypass in the pump anyway, right?
Did the motor have oil in it all those years it sat?
Did the motor have oil in it all those years it sat?
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 134
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From: new albany mississippi
Awright, I can see why you might not want to do that.
Was there oil in it all the while when it sat? Was the car inside? Did you start it up first, see no pressure, then put the direct gauge on it? I'm curious! I gots to know!
Was there oil in it all the while when it sat? Was the car inside? Did you start it up first, see no pressure, then put the direct gauge on it? I'm curious! I gots to know!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
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From: Southern Md
Ok. Here's the whole story. The engine is out of a wrecked 94 Corvette and was completely rebuilt(I DIDN'T KNOW THIS) by a shop in the year 2000. The owner(not me) installed it in his El Camino about 2001 then had health problems and it sat ever since in his driveway until reaching my garage. I have completed, I think, the Painless wiring harness conversion and just thought I would crank it over. The engine has all new ignition, wires , plugs etc and PO said he manually cranked it over by the balancer about every 4-6 months while it sat. It was empty of oil the whole time until now.I now have to drain all the Mobil 1 out and put regular oil in for break in but figured I would leave it in for testing for now. I am told the oil pump dummy drive is installed. I got nothing, no runs, no drips not a peep.I'll crank it some more today and see how long my battery will last. Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,756
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From: Wichita KS
Even if the oil filter bypass hole was stuck open, some volume would make it out of an unrestricted oil galley hole. All I can think of is the oil pump drive shaft is either sheered or missing. Are you spinning this engine over without the spark plugs? It's a lot easier on the starter, might want to try this before pulling the intake to see if the oil pump drive is in there and in good condition.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 17,700
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From: moraga ca
How do you prime the oil pump on an Lt-1? For a conventional chevy small block, pop the distributor on the back of the motor and prime the pump with a drill. I'm not sure what the configuration is on an Lt-1.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
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From: Southern Md
Just tried it again, it sure spins over easy with the plugs in it. Spun it long and hard to no avail. It's almost like the oil pump driveshaft is not connected. The oil filter was put on dry( on engine when I got it) and 6 qts of oil installed. Dry as a bone. Damn.
Last edited by bonehead2; Feb 19, 2009 at 11:19 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,756
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From: Wichita KS
The oil filter is dry as well
Oil pump isn't turning. Time to pull the intake
You say this engine has run before? Spins over real easy with spark plugs in? Been turning it over without oil getting to the bearings. I hate to write this but, maybe the bearings are scored at this point, besides something being wrong with the oil pump, it's drive or the single bolt holding the oil pump on, or the oil pump pickup...
Oil pump isn't turning. Time to pull the intakeYou say this engine has run before? Spins over real easy with spark plugs in? Been turning it over without oil getting to the bearings. I hate to write this but, maybe the bearings are scored at this point, besides something being wrong with the oil pump, it's drive or the single bolt holding the oil pump on, or the oil pump pickup...
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 92
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From: Meridian Mississippi
I agree with the priming idea. I would pull the oil pan off and inspect the oil pump as well just to check for any obvious problems. I would quit cranking it over because like Ryan59 said you could damage the bearings. I FOR SURE WOULD NOT START THE CAR UP until you got some oil pressure!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 452
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From: Southern Md
For real Brian.Cranking it is fine however I won't try to start it. By oil filter dry, I mean it wasn't filled with oil before cranking. I haven't had it off the engine yet.
I'm not getting the answers I REALLY want to hear guys.
I'm not getting the answers I REALLY want to hear guys.