1954 Oil pump issue - need advice

[Steve M.]

[Joe L.]

Re: 1954 Oil pump issue - need advice

Getting all the vettes out of storage, bumper to bumpers, and LOF.

While going through 54, it starts up great. (Just rebuilt and body off last year)

Oil pressure gauge shows 0 Oil pressure, so we cut it immediately. Hooked up independent oil pressure tester and no pressure.

Pulled pan and pulled apart pump. “Impellers had some small gouging on fins and some clear scoring on pump wall.

Ran air through and no blockages otherwise.

So..... thankfully having a son who is licensed mechanic, knew to cut her off quick and no damage.

Need to source a new oil pump, (doesn’t have to be NCRS as this isn’t a judged car) just need something that will work properly.

But. The one part of pump seems attached with round fasteners to block that I have no idea how to remove...

any help or advice?

Steve------


Based upon the maladies you described upon your inspection of your oil pump it seems strange to me that it would cause a ZERO oil pressure condition. So, I've got to wonder if the problem does not lie somewhere else. In any event, obtaining an oil pump for your car should not be difficult, at all. The original pump was GM #3702363. You may be able to find some NOS examples of this pump on eBay or elsewhere. However, you can also use a Melling M29 or Sealed Power 2244142 which are both easily available and, most likely, a lot less expensive than an NOS pump.

As far as the fastener problem, I can't be of any help. I've never been into one of these engines.

[Steve M.]

[Chris S.]

Re: 1954 Oil pump issue - need advice

a big cause of oil pump damage is the mis alignment of the dist and the oil pump
alot of people install the pump then install the dist later
it puts a ton of side load on the pump
keep the dist loose and pump loose - after both are installed - THEN tighten them up
like chuck - dont ask how I know.....
and yes - these are known to walk up....keep the advance tight

[Duke W.]

Re: 1954 Oil pump issue - need advice

Those pump gears look useable to me, however I would dress them with some 220-280 paper wetted with mineral spirits or a fine file to knock down any burrs and same with the pump shaft slot and end of the dist. shaft.

I'm not familiar with the old I-6, but can someone explain how the distributor can "walk up" enough to disengage the pump drive. On a SB or BB it's pretty obvious if the dist. shaft is not seated in the intermediate shaft slot because the distributor base will not seat on the manifold in which case the dist. has to be removed and the intermediate shaft has "tweaked" a bit with a paint mixing stick in the right direction to get them to engage.

Duke