help! no oil pressure

[barryv]

hi,i have a 1970 roadrunner 383 . I bled brakes today,hit the pedal pretty good then hit the brakes hard.couple of minutes later I heard loud lifter noise on driver side. oil pressure guage reads 0 pressure now. I have had this car for 36 years with no engine issues. is there a way to find out for sure if oil pump is at fault.thanks !

 

[super-bee_ski]

Hmmmm,

Oil pump is drive of Cam, correct?

 

[Ranger16]

I believe it is and the oil pump is external and on the drivers side. I'd pull the pump and have a look see.

 

[beanhead]

Maybe the intermediate shaft broke, if you heard a loud 'lifter' noise on the driver side. Easiest place to start would be, pull the distributor and then the shaft and inspect...then spin the oil pump by hand(drill) and see what happens.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Yup,Pull the distributor and start with the pump drive teeth and shaft.Then prime to see if the pump is ok.

 

[super-bee_ski]

I had an "Intermediate Shaft" break on a GM product, it was a little different
Picture is for a MOPAR 383

 

[Fran Blacker]

Agree first oil pump drive gear or shaft, the hex tips do snap off. If snapped a magnet may remove it or pull oil pump, make sure pump turns before putting it back together.

 

[barryv]

Agree first oil pump drive gear or shaft, the hex tips do snap off. If snapped a magnet may remove it or pull oil pump, make sure pump turns before putting it back together.

if its not the shaft ,im guessing oil pump? thanks for replies

 

[PurpleBeeper]

if its not the shaft ,im guessing oil pump? thanks for replies

Check your oil level on the dipstick first, then follow all of the advice above (VERY good advice). In my opinion, in order of likelihood, these can cause your issue on a 36 yr. old motor.
a. Oil is low
a+1/2. Oil filter drain back valve broke
b. Oil pump drive gear sheared off the hex tip on the pump side
c. Oil pump drive gear's teeth sheared off
d. Spun a rod/main bearing
e. Spun the #4 cam bearing

Best of luck sir!

 

[Cranky]

This may sound dumb but make sure the oil level is good then pull the filter and cut it open. If it's a Fram, suspect everything internal since Fram is the most counterfeited oil filter out there. If the oil level is good, fire it up 'without' the filter and see if you get a good stream but only do that for a second. It will make a mess if the pump is good so be ready for that.....

 

[barryv]

This may sound dumb but make sure the oil level is good then pull the filter and cut it open. If it's a Fram, suspect everything internal since Fram is the most counterfeited oil filter out there. If the oil level is good, fire it up 'without' the filter and see if you get a good stream but only do that for a second. It will make a mess if the pump is good so be ready for that.....

oil level is good.other then heads being redone 20 years ago,engine has not been mesed with since 1970 . before pulling distributor out should I remove oil filter. pretty sure my filter is a fram from Walmart.when I remove filter im guessing oil should fly out if not.do you recommend pulling distributor out first.thnx again

 

[bearman]

You could just pull the oil sender unit pull coil wire so it won't start then crank it see if oil comes out where the sending unit was. If no oil then follow the above notes as these guys are good at what they tell you.

 

[beanhead]

Oh yeah DUH first make sure the oil pressure sender wire didn't come loose.!

 

[barryv]

Oh yeah DUH first make sure the oil pressure sender wire didn't come loose.!

sender wire is not loose.no pressure im assuming causing loud chattering under driver side valve cover. I will pull distributor and check shaft.hopefully that will be issues.thanks again for all the help

 

[Runner 68]

I believe it is and the oil pump is external and on the drivers side. I'd pull the pump and have a look see.

WTF?

 

[cr8crshr]

10 to 1 it is either the oil pump itself or the intermediate shaft from the distributor. When they do go, the symptoms you described are exactly what has happened. At least from my experiences that is...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[barryv]

hi,took out distributor and found nothing wrong.took off oil pump since its 49 years old.going to get new oil pumpand then prime it to see if I have oil pressure.if no pressure,is it possible somehow oil pickup is clogged.thanks

 

[khryslerkid]

hi,took out distributor and found nothing wrong.took off oil pump since its 49 years old.going to get new oil pumpand then prime it to see if I have oil pressure.if no pressure,is it possible somehow oil pickup is clogged.thanks

Did you pull the shaft out and see if the hex was still on it?

You can remove the pressure valve (check valve) and check for debris. A piece of something can keep the valve open and it won't build any pressure. Look at the gears for scarring.

Get rid of that Fram filter while your at it and buy a Wix.

 

[QuickBpBp]

This could be as simple as a rocker breaking and the lifter popping out... No lifter, no oil pressure.... Pull the valve cover.

 

[Billccm]

I don't remember where I saw this, but it's recommended you pack the oil pump with Vaseline to create a vacuum to prime easily.