after cranking and cranking with the motor in the car, I pulled it back out and took off the oil pan. I replaced the oil pick up gasket and cleaned out the oil pickup screen. I have the motor hanging by the cherry picker now, with a tupperware container full of oil acting as an oil pan. using jumper cables and another battery, I've been turning it over and still nothing.

any ideas on getting this thing to pick up some oil? engine has never been ran after rebuild. there was alot of assembly lube (or thin red grease stuff) up the channel to the oil pump that I swabbed out, I'm hoping this isn't blocking oil flow everywhere.

anyway, I'm going crazy please help me re-gain my sanity.

 

Have you verified that the chain is actually moving in the front cover?

 

well the chain is moving but I haven't looked at it too close. how would I verify this?

 

just reading up on the front cover... if the oil pump sprocket had no key on it's shaft, everything would look fine but maybe not spin the pump? but I would think that the lock nut would give enough pressure to spin it anyway, at least at these rpm's....hmmm

 

Nope. If the key slipped out, it won't be able to turn it. I know I had a heck of a time keeping that key in place when I assembled the front cover pieces. That is something else to check.

 

how about the oil pressure control valve. could this be a problem? it looks like there is a small sleve, then a spring, and the bolt. can someone tell me how this functions?

 

With the pan off, you should be able to look up through the bottom and see if the chain and sprocket is turning. Have some one spin the flywheel while your looking.

Terry7

 

the chain does turn.

 

Might be a problem with the oil pump key - I had that happen a zillion years ago in a TurboII motor I built. Pulled the oil pan, and there was the key sitting nice and pretty.

It becomes one of those learning lessons . I now make 100% sure the key hasn't slipped out when I put the oil pump together.

Could also be a VERY badly not-installed-good front cover O-ring. Regardless, pretty much all the culprits are under the front cover - pull the front cover for answers.

Dale

 

well I reached up into oil pump from the pickup point and verified the pump is turning. (my little finger barely reached it, but yep, it was turning.) is it possible it is just turning too slowly to get enough vaccuum (or suction)? maybe it'll take the first startup to get enough flow. that could turn into a very bad idea I know, but I'm pretty confident it's put together right.

thanks for the help guys, if you think of anything else I'm all ears.