crate 350 no oil pressure

[lowrodderchev]

Just installed a crate 350 in my truck. Fired it up my mechanical gauge was marking the middle, few minutes later 0 oil pressure. Pick up tube still.looks connected my distributor is making contact. I pulled a valve cover and crank the motor there's no oil pumping up any suggestions?

[truckster]

Do you have an oil pump priming tool you can use with a drill? I'd try spinning the pump and see what pressure reading you get before you try to fire it up again.

[storm9c1]

Originally Posted by truckster

Do you have an oil pump priming tool you can use with a drill? I'd try spinning the pump and see what pressure reading you get before you try to fire it up again.

I agree. Something definitely went wrong. You need to find out what.

Sometimes cranking is not enough to see oil at the valves. Use a 1/2" drill with a priming tool. If you feel no resistance at full speed of the drill (it will torque your hand), the oil pump is dead. On the other hand, if you feel resistance, try hooking up another oil pressure gauge. A priming tool on a 1/2" drill will peg the stock gauge, FYI.

[GSP7]

busted oil pump shaft..... ?

[lowrodderchev]

I'll find me one of those tools and try it out. I stuck a screw driver in there and spun it by hand and I hear the oil gurgling. Buddy mine said if I'm cranking it oil should be spitting up around the valve covers guessing he was wrong on that assumption

[mud.man.rj]

Distributor gear maybe.

[storm9c1]

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

Distributor gear maybe.

Good suggestion. But won't a broken gear mean it won't run at all since the distributor can't spin? OP says it was running, just 0 oil pressure. Hmmmm... HOWEVER, might be worth a look at the bottom of the distributor shaft to make sure the oil pump drive didn't break off.

[lowrodderchev]

I took a distributor apart hooked it to a drill nothing pumped up so looks like bad oil pump hopefully I didn't mess anything up with that

[Dead Parrot]

Possible the pickup tube fell off the oil pump. Time to call the engine seller about warranty procedures and troubleshooting suggestions. You don't want to do some test or repair attempt that will let the seller claim you voided their warranty.

[friscobob]

Also possibly oil pressure relief valve is stuck open. Opened up a Jag engine once found half a cotter pin in relief valve. I was a cheap fix for what could have been expensive.
Bob

[GSP7]

Is the oil pump drive shaft ok?

[lowrodderchev]

Here's the kicker I bought this crate motor off a buddy of mine so warranty s out of the picture, I'm just going to replace the pump. The pick up tube is still attached I took a peak through the oil drain hole. Oil drive shaft is attached I don't see any damage. I'll see when I pull the pan

[GSP7]

Just curious , what kind of crate motor is it ?

[lowrodderchev]

It was from a GM dealer. Its got the good old hecho en mexico stamp

[GSP7]

Probably some jalapenos in the oil pan and clogging the oil pick up

[lowrodderchev]

Wow ok that was little racist

[nonstop]

It was a joke.

[Dead Parrot]

GSP7 might be on the right track. Possible a mouse or bug colony decided the motor was a good home while your buddy had it in storage.

Might be worth pulling the filter and cutting it open. Metal debris points to mechanical failure. Biologic trash indicates a colonization problem.

Probably going to have to pull the pan either way but might save the cost of a pump if you find a bunch of bug parts in the filter.

[lowrodderchev]

I gotta lift the motor to pull the pan so I just scored another pump to get it done faster. Crossing my fingers this is the issue.

[truckster]

Crossed fingers is good. I'd still recommend an oil pump priming tool before you fire it up again.

[nonstop]

Are you going stock replacement, or high volume?

[lowrodderchev]

Weird milky white stuff on bottom of the pan. Can't be good

[turbotruck]

moisture from sitting.

[lowrodderchev]

No its assembly lube lol freak me out there lol is there a way to test the old pump

[turbotruck]

Originally Posted by lowrodderchev

No its assembly lube lol freak me out there lol is there a way to test the old pump

put it in a bucket of oil and the the **** out of it with a drill. watch for oil dripping from the ceiling