Oil pump priming issue

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blownhemi

blownhemi

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So I was using a drill on my 318 to prime the oil pump and oil is gushing up through the oil pump drive hole.

I've done dozens of small blocks and never seen this before.

As everyone knows the pump is literally bolted into rear main cap from the bottom with the drive flange basically press fitted into the main cap, and oil pump drive goes in through the top from the valley, so where can oil come up through the oil pump drive hole?

I suspect the oil pump has failed in some way or come loose. Any other suggestions?
 
going the right way? Probably the oil galley plug is missing under the distributor mount.
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Need some help, oiling issue 318 la block with magnum heads
 
pishta said:
going the right way? Probably the oil galley plug is missing under the distributor mount.
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Definitely going right way.

I know the plug you're talking about and I don't think it has an exit near the oil pump drive hole, it runs parallel to it up to the oil gauge sender hole
 
Sure sounds like what Pishta said. If driver's side lifter galley plug is out, that's basically direct pressure.
 
blownhemi said:
Holy ****! I didn't even see that plug!

And yep with have a winner! On first glance it looked like oil was coming up through the shaft, but I just checked and it's actually coming through that hole.
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:thumbsup:
 
have to go through back left threaded plug next to cam welsh plug. Sorry....UNLESS you gotta a 1/4" sidewinder ratchet? Maybe you can get the head down there to screw in the plug.
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Years ago there was a thread, someone on here claimed the installed the plug and I THINK they did it through the dist. hole. Tho, I do not remember if this was with intake installed or not
 
It's in the vehicle, I've already pulled the intake and I'm confident I'll get it done without pulling the engine. Just having a lunch break first. My back is killing me from bending over the fenders all morning.
 
I was rushing and I forgot the same plug this year. It can be installed without removing the engine or transmission. Remove the intake. Stuff rags in the openings to make sure it cannot fall anywhere if you drop it. Use a hex socket and wrench to turn it in. Go slow. Be careful.
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Bobzilla said:
I was rushing and I forgot the same plug this year. It can be installed without removing the engine or transmission. Remove the intake. Stuff rags in the openings to make sure it cannot fall anywhere if you drop it. Use a hex socket and wrench to turn it in. Go slow. Be careful.
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Thanks for the tip mate, love the hex socket and wrench combo

How did you discover that you forgotten it? I found out after I fired the engine up. It had oil pressure but lower than I'd like. Bedded cam in and engine oil got warm and oil pressure suddenly dropped to nothing so I shut it down. Engine sounded fine, cam has all it's lobes, but yeah wasn't the best situation.


Edit: Job done - this was the best tip ever. Wacked some sealant on the threads, plug in place, hex socket and spanner and screwed it straight in.
 
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Update - Put the gallery plug in as suggested, got the manifold back on and everything together and she's got all the oil pressure in the world (funny that).

Now for some tuning and dyno time. Hopefully we'll see 300rwhp+
 
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Was all your molly lube still on the cam or did it end up in the sump.
 
dodgy said:
Was all your molly lube still on the cam or did it end up in the sump.
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Well I'd already run the engine for 20mins so it was all in the sump. I did wack some more lube on the cam before I dropped the intake back on though.
 
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aaronk785 said:
I did it with an Allen wrench through the distributor hole while in the car. Not bad at all.
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I looked at doing it that way but it seemed high risk (dropping the plug) and very difficult. For me it was literally easier to pull the intake and I got the whole think back together in a few hours.
 
Sorry mate i overlooked your post on running the engine without the gallery plug installed.
 
How about this one. 440 will not prime and going the correct way.
 
Ive heard packing the oil pump with molly lube before installing and it will prime itself. Also if you use a differential fluid pump you can pump oil into the pumps outlet (outside threads) prior to installing filter and it will prime.
 
pishta said:
Ive heard packing the oil pump with molly lube before installing and it will prime itself. Also if you use a differential fluid pump you can pump oil into the pumps outlet (outside threads) prior to installing filter and it will prime.
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How could you pump the oil in?
 
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