'68 289 - No oil pressure - How to prime?

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I have a 68 289 in my Mustang that has been sitting for quite some time. There is a slight chance there is junk or something floating around in the pan that has cause the screen to get plugged up.

However, I am looking to see what tools/method there is for priming the oil pump on these engines? It's ran for about 10 seconds before I shut it down using a mechanical oil pressure gauge. No oil was confirmed by an empty oil filter as well. Would not filling the oil filter with oil first cause any issues on these engines?

Thanks!

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Also, is there any way when I reinstalled the distributor I could have not gotten things lined up for the oil pump? Doesn't sound likely since the engine fires right up and all went together pretty smooth..just thought i'd ask.

 

[Az Pete]

If the shaft was in the oil pump when you installed the dist. it is hard to miss. The dist. can be installed without the shaft to the pump and the car would still run....with no oil pressure. I would pull the dist and use a drill and socket on the pump shaft to spin the pump. This should produce oil flow. If not, drop the pan and find the problem. Filling the filter makes no difference.

 

[D.Hearne]

It's possible when you pulled the distributor, the oil pump drvie shaft came part way up with the distributor then fell down into the pan. Just as Az Pete stated the engine will run with no oil pressure. If the shaft was in place when you stabbed the distributor, you'd know it was still there, as rarely will the distributor go all the way into place without first having trouble lining up with the oil drive. Better to do as Az Pete said and pull the distributor not only to verify that the oil drive is there but to also prime the system with a drill (1/4" hex socket on a long extension...tape the socket to the extension before trying to do this) Spin the extension and socket with a 3/8 drill... counterclockwise. While the system will prime with no oil in the filter, it's not a bad idea to partially fill the filter first with oil.

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Well come to find out the intermediate shaft is not in place. I don't recall ever pulling it out, so how possible is it to end up in the pan? Sure sounds like a pain!!

Thanks-

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I have a oil pump drive now, its just a basic piece of 1/4" hex stock with a 'stop washer' on it. However I cannot get it to spline with the oil pump down below. It almost seems as if the rod is too short under the 'stop washer'. Has anyone come across this? Can anyone tell me how long the rod should be below the stop? Thanks!

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Welp sure enough I've found out as you all know installing it from the top isn't possible! Why makes no sense to me, but thats a lesson learned from the first Ford I've ever messed with. Anyway, found the drive in the pan, have to track down the pump>screen and pump>block gaskets before i go back together.

I hate 4 piece pan gaskets

 

[D.Hearne]

Welp sure enough I've found out as you all know installing it from the top isn't possible! Why makes no sense to me, but thats a lesson learned from the first Ford I've ever messed with. Anyway, found the drive in the pan, have to track down the pump>screen and pump>block gaskets before i go back together.

I hate 4 piece pan gaskets

Only way to install the pump drive from the top is to somehow lock the drive(minus the stop washer) in the distributor(glue it) so it cannot fall out, then stab both together into the motor. Apparently some one installed the drive with the stop washer on the wrong end when the motor was assembled (washer goes up top, not just above the pump) The washer's purpose is to keep the shaft from being pulled out of the pump far enough to allow the shaft to fall back into the pan. The oilpump pickup tube and screen can be bought at any parts house, ditto for the gaskets.

 

[zookeeper]

I've installed it from the top before by putting a short piece of tape over the drive shaft, then stab in into the distributer, then carefully guide it in place. Where there's a will, there's a way...

 

[GoodysGotaCuda]

Thanks guys, I did want to get it in from the top, but at the same token..this engine sat for a LONG time. So it was actually worth it after finding the sludge/junk that was floatin around in the bottom of the pan.

Will get it back together soon. Thanks