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New HELP Lost oil pressure. Update 9-9-20 #1069196
09/04/11 06:53 PM
09/04/11 06:53 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
VOABIRD Offline OP
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VOABIRD  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
I have a 1970 Plymouth with a 440 six pack and 58,000 miles. I changed oil today and used Fram oil filter with 10w40 Castrol, I had been using Wix filters and 20w50 oil. I started the engine and it built oil pressure, went for a 15 minute drive and had it to the floor a few times.
I noticed there was no oil pressure and the lifters were rattling. I had the car towed home, removed the oil filter and it did not have oil in it. I removed the valve covers and it checked all of the push rods and they appear to be fine. Drained the oil, installed a new Mopar filter and filled it with fresh 10w40. The oil did not appear to have anything that looked like bearing material.
Still no oil pressure.

Good news. I could not build any oil pressure when I tried priming the engine with a drill through the distributor. I kept hearing gurgling and hissing under the intake manifold. After 2 days I thought about trying to drink through a straw with a hole in it and decided to pull the oil pan. The oil pick up tube was cracked where it threads into the block and broke off when I touched it.
A trip to the auto parts store for 2 pan gaskets and a $17.50 pick up tube and the bird is running. Thanks to everyone for their advise.
Thanks

6810709-ViperAvatar.jpg (62 downloads)
Last edited by VOABIRD; 09/09/11 05:25 PM.
Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: VOABIRD] #1069197
09/04/11 06:59 PM
09/04/11 06:59 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,728
ST clair shores MI
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moretoys Offline
top fuel
moretoys  Offline
top fuel
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Posts: 1,728
ST clair shores MI
pull the dist. out and check the oil pump shaft.might have twisted/broke.Oil pump could have locked up.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: VOABIRD] #1069198
09/04/11 07:01 PM
09/04/11 07:01 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
In_The_Pink Offline
master
In_The_Pink  Offline
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Posts: 9,065
Milwaukee, WI
Sounds like the oil pump pickup screen or tube is blocked/clogged. I would drop the pan and have a look.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: In_The_Pink] #1069199
09/04/11 07:31 PM
09/04/11 07:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,116
PA.
pittsburghracer Offline
"Little"John
pittsburghracer  Offline
"Little"John

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,116
PA.
If your right handed put the FRUM oil filter in your right hand and throw it as far as you can.


1970 Duster
Edelbrock headed 408
5.984@112.52
422 Indy headed small block
5.982@112.56 mph
9.42@138.27

Livin and lovin life one day at a time




Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: pittsburghracer] #1069200
09/04/11 07:49 PM
09/04/11 07:49 PM

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After a few spirited runs with my 'Cuda's 440 a few years back, it lost oil pressure.

I clicked it off and walked the mile home.

I towed it home and still couldn't get pressure on startup.

I took the distributor and the intermediate shaft out and primed the pump with a cordless drill. It finally "caught" and everything was fine after that.

I must've got air in the pump is all I can figure.

I drove it for quite a while after that and never had the problem again.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: pittsburghracer] #1069201
09/04/11 07:56 PM
09/04/11 07:56 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
VOABIRD Offline OP
member
VOABIRD  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
Quote:

If your right handed put the FRUM oil filter in your right hand and throw it as far as you can.




I agree, I was in a hurry and had the wife pick up a filter at Walmart.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. #1069202
09/04/11 07:58 PM
09/04/11 07:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
VOABIRD Offline OP
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VOABIRD  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
What tool do I need to prime the pump?

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: VOABIRD] #1069203
09/04/11 08:00 PM
09/04/11 08:00 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,746
Ontario, Canada
Dodgem Offline
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Ontario, Canada

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: Dodgem] #1069204
09/04/11 09:08 PM
09/04/11 09:08 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,116
PA.
pittsburghracer Offline
"Little"John
pittsburghracer  Offline
"Little"John

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,116
PA.
Not saying you will get this lucky but a local racer at PRP made a pass and on the return road he lost oil pressure, shut it off and loaded the car up. The next day he put another oil filter on it and all is well. Good-luck.


1970 Duster
Edelbrock headed 408
5.984@112.52
422 Indy headed small block
5.982@112.56 mph
9.42@138.27

Livin and lovin life one day at a time




Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: pittsburghracer] #1069205
09/04/11 09:18 PM
09/04/11 09:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
M
MoparforLife Offline
Too Many Posts
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Upper Midwest
I wold beet the farm you twisted the intermediate shaft off and that is what drives the oil pump. Pull the distributor and intermediate shaft. Bet the hex end is gone. It will be stuck in the oil pump so the pump will have to come off. Nota big deal to R&R the pump.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: MoparforLife] #1069206
09/04/11 09:40 PM
09/04/11 09:40 PM
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 843
Suffolk,VA
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ireland383 Offline
super stock
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Suffolk,VA
Quote:

I wold beet the farm you twisted the intermediate shaft off and that is what drives the oil pump. Pull the distributor and intermediate shaft. Bet the hex end is gone. It will be stuck in the oil pump so the pump will have to come off. Nota big deal to R&R the pump.


check the shaft.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: ireland383] #1069207
09/04/11 10:01 PM
09/04/11 10:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 25,200
Upper Midwest
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MoparforLife Offline
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Upper Midwest
If the shaft is indeed broken I would either replace the pump or thoroughly disassemble, clean and inspect it. something got into it and jammed the rotors stopping the pump rotation and causing the shaft breakage.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: pittsburghracer] #1069208
09/04/11 10:01 PM
09/04/11 10:01 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
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Rust Belt, SW PA
Quote:

If your right handed put the FRUM oil filter in your right hand and throw it as far as you can.




I changed oil in probally 1000 cars in my lifes and the only bad oil filter I ever got out of all of them was a wix! Fortuneately for me, I found it while priming a fresh 493 stroker. Had I used the other for break in and switch to the bad one, it would have been ugly.


68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert
340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z
66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: MoparforLife] #1069209
09/04/11 10:06 PM
09/04/11 10:06 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
VOABIRD Offline OP
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VOABIRD  Offline OP
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 15
KC KS or Punta Gorda FL FL
Quote:

If the shaft is indeed broken I would either replace the pump or thoroughly disassemble, clean and inspect it. something got into it and jammed the rotors stopping the pump rotation and causing the shaft breakage.




OK, I pulled the distributor and and shaft and the shaft is not broken. I cant find the prime tool today and probably not on labor day either. If anyone else has ideas please post them.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: VOABIRD] #1069210
09/04/11 10:13 PM
09/04/11 10:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,435
So Cal
Sinitro Offline
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Sinitro  Offline
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So Cal
Double check the drive gear, some of these were made without being pinned and will spin if worn bad...

Just my $0.02...

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: VOABIRD] #1069211
09/04/11 10:18 PM
09/04/11 10:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,473
Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
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JDMopar Offline
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Candler,NC / Myrtle Beach, SC
If you have a spare 440 laying around,pull the intermediate shaft out of it and grind all of the teeth off of it. Wash it good, and use that for a priming tool.You will also need to make a tool with an end that fits the slot in the shaft, to use in the drill. I needed to do the same years ago, and just sawed the handle off of a straight screwdriver to use in the drill. Good luck.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: JDMopar] #1069212
09/04/11 11:04 PM
09/04/11 11:04 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

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Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
You need a reversible drill because it primes counter clockwise,

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: stumpy] #1069213
09/05/11 10:12 AM
09/05/11 10:12 AM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
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RapidRobert Offline
Circle Track
RapidRobert  Offline
Circle Track
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 36,040
Lincoln Nebraska
get a 3/8" round rod & grind/deburr/clean an end to a 5/16 hex, dont have 2 b perfect just work on it w your bench grinder till it fits fairly good & as said prime CCW. If no go might take off the filter & try to add a bit of oil in the pump & reprime w filter off (drape a rag over the pump) but w it loosing psi out of the clear blue sky it sure sounds like the prob is upstream almost like an inside pipe plug came out but I cant see that happening. Pull the pipe thread plug on the pressure regulator on the pump & see if plunger/spring is still free. Holler what it ends up being EDIT if you grind a rod look at an allen wrench the same size to get where you want it

Last edited by RapidRobert; 09/05/11 06:15 PM.

live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth
Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: RapidRobert] #1069214
09/05/11 11:51 AM
09/05/11 11:51 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,163
NORTHERN VA
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THESHAKERPROJECT Offline
super stock
THESHAKERPROJECT  Offline
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Posts: 1,163
NORTHERN VA
I never install a dry filter, always fill it half way when changing.

Re: HELP Lost oil pressure and dont know why. [Re: VOABIRD] #1069215
09/05/11 12:09 PM
09/05/11 12:09 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 340
Alaska
7
73rrak Offline
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73rrak  Offline
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 340
Alaska
I don't know if you have one near you but Ace Hardware has 5/16 hex rod. I bought some from them years ago and still have it and use it.

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