oil pump drive shaft question

[jerry S]

what drives your oil pump? Or to put it another way, to what does the oil pump drive shaft attach? I am getting a Moroso 7 qt oil pan and windage tray and figured while I am at it, I might as well get a new oil pump (standard vol) and driveshaft. Where I am confused is that I just got a new distributor and was told that I did not need a new oil pump drive shaft because my distributor was new. However, I thought that the distributor connects to the camshaft via the distributor gear and I cannot understand how the oil pump connects to the camshaft/distributor. Can somebody please 'splain this to a dumb ass lke me?

 

[strange65]

You are correct in your thinking, the distributor connects to the oil pump thru a shaft that slips in one end of the distributor and the other end into the oil pump.

 

[Capt Dan]

The oil pump dive shaft slips into the bottom of the distributor shaft similar to the way an allen wrench fits into an allen head bolt.

Good to replace it with a new pump. does not take too much wear to become a problem.

 

[Tim65GT]

Here's a pic of the top of the oil pump drive (barely visible) in the bottom of the Distributor Hole.

 

[jerry S]

thanks guys.

I could not understand what was being explained to me in no small part because it was crap. New parts are on the way!:SNSign:

 

[Bullitt]

whatever you do, get a hardened oil pump driveshaft. don't put in a stock type one.

these are notorious for failing, esp on higher mileage motors.

 

[HistoricMustang]

whatever you do, get a hardened oil pump driveshaft. don't put in a stock type one.

these are notorious for failing, esp on higher mileage motors.

I agree! Get the "blue vein throbber hardened type".

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

 

[Tim65GT]

Quote by HistoricMustang:

I agree! Get the "blue vein throbber hardened type".

 

[65ShelbyClone]

whatever you do, get a hardened oil pump driveshaft.

I third that.

@ Historic.

 

[milner351]

I'll be the fourth, and confirm your distributor gear / cam drive metallurgy... if you have a roller cam you need a bronze/brass distributor gear.
Also wise to check the wear on the gear after a short time to make sure all is well after a few miles. A friend of mine went through all kinds of problems with distributor gears / pump driveshafts.
Buy the ford racing/motorsport oil pump driveshaft, it's worth it.

 

[jerry S]

what about the sleeve? Only the Melling comes with a sleeve whereas none of the others do (including Ford Racing and ARP). Do you reuse the stock sleeve (if there is one) or what?

 

[65ShelbyClone]

I'll be the fourth, and confirm your distributor gear / cam drive metallurgy... if you have a roller cam you need a bronze/brass distributor gear.

Thats what everyone seems to recommend, but a longer-lasting alternative(that Ford started using in 1985) is a steel gear.

 

[yeloxr7]

what about the sleeve? Only the Melling comes with a sleeve whereas none of the others do (including Ford Racing and ARP). Do you reuse the stock sleeve (if there is one) or what?

You mean like on a Chevy? No sleeve on a Ford.

 

[thehueypilot]

I'm not sure what the sleeve is your talking, but an oil pump shaft should come with an "e" clip to keep it from pulling through when you remove the distibutor. I would highly recommend the steel gear for a roller cam unless your are rich and can buy a new engine every two years or sooner when the dist gear wears out and you don't catch it in time.

 

[jerry S]

You mean like on a Chevy? No sleeve on a Ford.

If you go through the on-line summit catalog and look for oil pump driveshafts for a 351W ford, the melling, p/n 83, indicates that it comes with a sleeve. I guess it is just a vaguery of the summit catalog



Brand: Melling Engine Parts
Product Line: Melling Heavy Duty Intermediate Drive Shafts
For Use with High Volume Oil Pump: Yes
Hardened Shaft: Yes
Sleeve Included: Yes
Sleeve Material: Steel
Drive Gear Included: No
Quantity: Sold individually.
Oil Pump Driveshaft, Ford Small Block Windsor, Each

 

[HistoricMustang]

I'm not sure what the sleeve is your talking, but an oil pump shaft should come with an "e" clip to keep it from pulling through when you remove the distibutor. I would highly recommend the steel gear for a roller cam unless your are rich and can buy a new engine every two years or sooner when the dist gear wears out and you don't catch it in time.

Yes, I just did this deal with a Melling Pump and the sleeve must be the "e" clip.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com

 

[limey66]

So where does this 'E' clip fit then? I pulled my dizzy to turn the engine over to pre-lube it, and the oil pump shaft came right out with it. There was no groove in the end to suggest it needed a retainer of some sort.

Took fing ages to get it back in...

 

[65ShelbyClone]

The "E" clip is not an e-clip, but a little stamped steel collar that slips tightly over the distributor end of the shaft(on the oil pump side of the block). It is just there to keep the shaft from coming out with the distributor and possibly falling into the pan. The shaft shouldnt need to be removed unless the pump is being replaced(or it snapped, in which case the pump still needs to be replaced).

 

[limey66]

I haven't got one, and there was no 'witness' mark on the shaft to indicate where one should be...oh well, as long as the oil pump is holding it in at the bottom, and the distributor at the top. Better hope it doesn't break.

 

[HistoricMustang]

The "E" clip is not an e-clip, but a little stamped steel collar that slips tightly over the distributor end of the shaft(on the oil pump side of the block). It is just there to keep the shaft from coming out with the distributor and possibly falling into the pan. The shaft shouldnt need to be removed unless the pump is being replaced(or it snapped, in which case the pump still needs to be replaced).

Believe the clip is actually there to keep the shaft from coming out of the oil pump.

HistoricMustang
www.historicmustang.com