Hello all!

I had a recent post in which I discovered I had some milky oil in my 1968 J code motor. The motor runs great, but I did put in a new cam, intake manifold, water pump, etc. The only symptom besides the milky oil was whitish smoke out of the valve cover breather.

At any rate when I pulled the intake manifold it looked like one intake gasket moved slightly. I am hoping this to be the problem, but thought I would do a compression check as well. My question is, can I do the check with the intake manifold and distributor out (I know the distributor has no effect, but I believe it runs the oil pump, and I certainly want oil circulating.

Thanks in advance!

 

I can't of any reason why the intake would make a diff. As you said, gotta have some oil pressure, even if very little.
Personally I wouldn't have the guts to spin the motor enough to check a 8 cylinders without the dizzy. Mabey 1 but not 8.
Might get a electric drill and disto shaft to circulate oil then check 1, then use the drill again ect.

 

I would drop the distributor back in for the compression check. You don't have to have it timed right, just need the oil pump driveshaft connected. No problem with having the intake off, though

 

The intake manifold should not make a difference for a compression test. The compression test is to see if your head gaskets and rings are good (and your valve seating...but it does not sound like your valve seating is an issue). I would have the distributor in because it does drive your oil pump and it just spooks the hell out of me to turn it over KNOWING I have no oil pump! I would suggest getting a drill and an old ditributor shaft and "pump" it up some before dropping the distributor back in, just to have it "primed". Also, make sure you check your compression on the "compression" stroke not the "exhaust" stroke. It sounds obvious but sometimes it's easy to get 180 degrees out and think you have a major problem when you don't (this may show my age but...oh well, I was taught old school with old school tools).

If your intake gaskets look like they slipped then that is most likely where you got water in the oil. As much as I like SB Fords...the intake manifold gaskets can be a real pain if your not careful.