Hey guys, heres the background info- I've got a jdm engine, 88 T2 that I rebuilt and ported for my FB. Dropped it in, engine started- but oil pressure read 0 psi. Sooo- I changed sensors first, still nothing. I pulled off the oil cooler hose off the front cover- bone dry.

I dropped the oil pan, no clog in the strainer- put in a new gasket for the pickup tube as well. Removed the front cover, pulled out the oil pump and inspected it- looks all ok, the marks are facing the front rotor as well. I blew air through the passages for the oil pump and both seem fine. So, I attached the oil pump and oil pan back on and cranked the engine with the front cover off - still not a drop of oil coming through...

Is there anything I've overlooked? Or could it be that the oil pump is just completely gone? All the keys are in place, and both oil pump rotors are spinning. The oil pump sprocket is also installed correctly on the key and does turn the pump shaft.

What else could it be? I'm stumped at this point.

 

When you assembled the oil pump, did you lube it up? May have trouble creating suction without lube. In my experience the pump will barely move anything at cranking speed but should pick up as soon as the engine starts....This is a weird one.

And you are SURE that the little key is on the shaft?

 

Ya that key has gotten me before. I used some steel putty to hold mine on .

Oil pressure should build while cranking the motor.

 

Yeah, the key gets pushed out of the slot when you put the sprocket on the oil pump.

I leave the key out of the e-shaft sprocket until after I put the chain/sprocket on the oil pump so I can rotate the e-shaft sprocket and make sure the key is in place on the oil pump.

 

Yeah, the oil pump is lubed up, and the key is in for sure. I did have it fall out a couple times when putting the sprocket on, but its definately in there now. Also confirmed it by watching the oil pump shaft turn with the engine when cranking.

I also forgot to mention, I've got the spark plugs out too to speed up cranking and still not even a drop of oil gets moved.

 

make sure your pick-up gasket isn't bad. the pick-up tube has a gasket to maintain a good seal to the pump. other than that check clearance of the oil pump.

 

There is also the oil pump outlet o-ring between the front side housing and front cover, but even with that MISSING there should be some oil comming out of the pump outlet (front oil cooler hose) when cranking...

If everything is in mechanical order you can prime the oil system to get it pumping alot sooner by taking off the oil filter and pouring oil into the the holes to fill the oil system cavities.

It takes some time for gravity and capillary action to get the oil where it needs to go and to not make a mess.

 

Have you figured it out yet?

 

BLUE TII, Ive got the front cover off the engine right now, so I know for sure the O-ring isnt the problem.

I just picked up a known good FD oil pump today, so I will be trying that tomorrow when I go home.

I noticed the FD pump has an extra cavity at the bottom, so I'm wondering if anyone knows if this will make a difference? Is anyone else running an FD pump on a TII front iron?

Thanks,

 

It is my understanding that one cannot use the FD pump on an FC motor because of the addition of the oiling port on the FD pump you have noticed.

 

Thanks, I ran a couple searches and confirmed this too- looks like I'm going to try putting the FD pump internals into the T2 housing and hope for the best!

 

Good news!

I used the best combination of parts between the FD pump and the T2 pump. Hooked it up, and spun it with a drill and shot oil all over my intercooler!

Now...only if I could get the sprocket lined up right...

 

hahaha. Don't think you are the only one, this also happend to me. It was to late at night to be working on the car, one eye closed one eye half opened if you know what I mean. I did the same thing trying to tight the bolt on the oil pump. haha. Oil all over the place.