The Ford Barn - View Single Post

tubman · 09-25-2019, 12:20 PM

Boy, I dunno guys. No disrespect intended, but unless the O/P is an experienced engine guy, there is a possibility that he may do more harm than good tearing the engine down to the extant that he could plasti-gage the bearings, etc. To have a shop do it would add quite a bit to his budget. I would go over the receipts to see exactly what has been done, and if possible, check the reputation of the shop that did the work. If everything there checks out, and the engine passes a visual inspection, turns freely and doesn't make any funny noises, I would do what the O/P suggested : fill it with oil, and turn it over without plugs to see if there is oil pressure. If that turns out OK, I'd check the compression and then try to fire it.

This is exactly what I did with the good used '51 Merc that I had that had been sitting under the stairs for 20 years. One thing about that engine : it took a long time to show any oil pressure at all, perhaps over a minute. (It seemed like longer.) When it did build pressure, it came right up. I believe that during it's long slumber, all of the oil in the passages drained back into the pan and the pump lost it's prime. When it did finally prime, it was fine. That engine has been in my car for going on three years now and runs strong, cool, and has good oil pressure. If the O/P's engine is a fresh rebuild, the oil pump should have been packed with grease or Vaseline, and should prime easier.

One thing that could be done is to rig some sort of pressure device (I have heard fertilizer sprayers work) up to the oil gauge port and force oil into the passages and pump to make sure the entire system is full of oil, not just the pan.

I would also add that if you remove the pan to check things out, you should plan on replacing the front and rear seals. On the 258" I just finished, I had installed a Speedway oil pump. The engine ran good and didn't leak, but I was dissatisfied with the oil pressure. After many discussions here and elsewhere, I pulled the pan and replaced the new Speedway pump with a known good used Ford pump. This solved my oil pressure problems, but although I was very careful, I now have a rear main seal leak.

Just my 2 cents.

09-25-2019, 12:20 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,146	Re: Rebuilt engine Boy, I dunno guys. No disrespect intended, but unless the O/P is an experienced engine guy, there is a possibility that he may do more harm than good tearing the engine down to the extant that he could plasti-gage the bearings, etc. To have a shop do it would add quite a bit to his budget. I would go over the receipts to see exactly what has been done, and if possible, check the reputation of the shop that did the work. If everything there checks out, and the engine passes a visual inspection, turns freely and doesn't make any funny noises, I would do what the O/P suggested : fill it with oil, and turn it over without plugs to see if there is oil pressure. If that turns out OK, I'd check the compression and then try to fire it. This is exactly what I did with the good used '51 Merc that I had that had been sitting under the stairs for 20 years. One thing about that engine : it took a long time to show any oil pressure at all, perhaps over a minute. (It seemed like longer.) When it did build pressure, it came right up. I believe that during it's long slumber, all of the oil in the passages drained back into the pan and the pump lost it's prime. When it did finally prime, it was fine. That engine has been in my car for going on three years now and runs strong, cool, and has good oil pressure. If the O/P's engine is a fresh rebuild, the oil pump should have been packed with grease or Vaseline, and should prime easier. One thing that could be done is to rig some sort of pressure device (I have heard fertilizer sprayers work) up to the oil gauge port and force oil into the passages and pump to make sure the entire system is full of oil, not just the pan. I would also add that if you remove the pan to check things out, you should plan on replacing the front and rear seals. On the 258" I just finished, I had installed a Speedway oil pump. The engine ran good and didn't leak, but I was dissatisfied with the oil pressure. After many discussions here and elsewhere, I pulled the pan and replaced the new Speedway pump with a known good used Ford pump. This solved my oil pressure problems, but although I was very careful, I now have a rear main seal leak. Just my 2 cents. Last edited by tubman; 09-25-2019 at 12:42 PM.