AdderMk2

Oh god, it was horrible... I ended up pulling the distributor to check the oil pump shaft, pulled the oil pressure sensor to make sure the pump was moving oil, checked my filter to see if it had primed up. The problem had me completely stumped! Then I recalled whan I had the engine on the stand, and was priming it with the drill before dropping it in, there was a galley plug at the very rear of the engine, top of the lifter valley, that was spewing oil. I had stupidly stuck my thumb in it to get oil up into the lifters. I was under the impression (and idk why) that the intake manifold blocked that hole (i know.. I know).

So I contacted my engine builder, sent him pics of what I found, and he had me cut my oil filter open and send more pics. He admitted it must have been a mistake on their part, to not put the plug in, and offered to send me a new short block and gasket set IF the bottom end was toast. After sending the pictures, he was convinced I was ok. But wanted me to keep in touch.

I have put over 5k miles on the engine since (not very nice miles either) and it still runs fine! I did have the opportunity to change out the thrust bearing though (over tensioned clutch cable). While I had it out, I took a few more pics and sent them to my builder, and he said that there shouldn't be any issues with the oil pressure problem it had.

I have since removed and sold the cam that was in the car at the time, and it didnt show any signs of scarring from no oil pressure... but then again, I used a ton of assembly lube on that too!

projectresto83

The bearings can take a beating and still be fine. The first time my 83 was started up with the motor I have now it didn't have a oil pump shaft at all. This was before I really new much about the motor and my brother assumed it had one since it was a running motor and we never removed the oil pump. We ran it for about 30 seconds with absolutely no oil pressure. I drove the car all summer and when I tore the motor down the winter of 08 the bearings still looked good. I am still running the motor today...with a bent crank.....with 25-60psi of oil pressure all the time depending on the RPM.

Tha Boss

Well guys I replaced the oil pump shaft. It was twisted in two!!!! thanks