I noticed just recently that when Im driving I have very low oil pressure on the gauge, and sometimes its just all the way left at the L. It used to always be on the H until this week when it dropped suddenly. I didnt see it slowly go down, one day it was just really low. I know the gauge isnt totally dead because it moves up a little, but the oil pressure is still very low. Any one know what might be wrong?

 

You need to stick a real gauge on the engine, temporarily, to see if the engine really has no pressure. Don't drive until you do, and if there is none, shut it down immediately.

 

+1 on that, the original gauges aren't very accurate.

 

Ill go buy a gauge tomorrow. How do I set up the gauge to check the oil pressure?

 

My experience has been that when a gauge is working well and then there is suddenly no oil pressure, the problem usually is not the gauge, even though I want it to be...

If you have an engine that has not been rebuilt in the last 30+ years you might have pieces of the old nylon timing gear plugging the oil pump pickup,,,,

Chances are if you are not experiencing a knock, (rod or main bearings) it is probably your cam bearings, again, drawing on common SBF issues...

Best case scenario (but not real likely) would be a stripped (rounded) oil pump drive shaft, might be worth pulling the distributor to take a look. I would probably do this first, (at least you could look at the top of the shaft) right after trying the mechanical gauge.

 

If its mechanical you plumb it in where the sending unit for the electrical gauge is I believe.

 

I actually am experiencing a knock, which I posted about, but most believe it is an exhaust leak. But, there is also another clicking noise (lighter less heavy sounding knock) coming from what seems to be the distributor area. Im about to try and get a video of the secondary knock.

 

It could be the oil pump shaft becoming rounded and the gears are now clicking. Hopefully not, but it might be that.

 

The knock changes things... even without hearing the video............
I say the odds are about 95% that you are on the verge of "catastrophic engine failure"

I know, it just sucks.

 

Oh lawd. For real? Im ****ed arent I? Should I pull the oil pan and check for engine diarrhea?