49-53 mercury flathead oil pump help

[flatjack9]

It's on the rear of the engine on the driver's side. Not easy to get at. I'm sure someone could post a picture.

[JSeery]

See the fittings at the rear of the block next to where the bellhousing bolts on? On this one the tubing out of the top goes to the oil filter and the one out of the side goes to the oil gauge. They are both connected to the same passage internally. The second post is an early engine (59a), but the external oil fittings are in the same location. In this drawing the oil filter line is connected to the side and the oil pressure sender is connected to the top outlet. Again, it is the same passage internally.

[RandyMettler]

oh yah. I see it on my 8BA. I wondered what that was. It has a long 12 inch vertical tube with what I will term a "chrome bell" mounted at the top. There is an electrical wire attached to the top of the bell. I don't have a top mounted oil filter. Mine is on the bottom driver side of the block. Is it possible to replace this electrical sending unit with a mechanical unit. I will post pictures tomorrow if needed. Are there better mechanical units than others?

I will also post pictures of my dash gages. I stumbled across them on line and they are not cheap. If I remember correctly around 500 dollars. Of course, this does not indicate quality, only selling price. I would like input on barners real world experience with the product.

Thanks

[cas3]

the "bell" is the original oil pressure sending unit. it has a square boss on the bottom that takes a 9/16 wrench to unscrew it, exposing 3/8 pipe thread to install any oil pressure gadget you like

[JSeery]

Sounds like the sender unit is on an upright tube. What if anything is attached to the side opening? If it was me I would attach a fairly cheap mechanical gauge to double check the electric sender and gauge. Cheaper and easier than pulling an engine.

[tubman]

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On the back of the block, on the upper left hand (USA driver's) side. There will be another line there for the oil filter (if equipped), but the sender location should be obvious if you look in that general area.

[flatjack9]

Originally Posted by cas3

the "bell" is the original oil pressure sending unit. it has a square boss on the bottom that takes a 9/16 wrench to unscrew it, exposing 3/8 pipe thread to install any oil pressure gadget you like

I believe that is 1/4" pipe.

[cas3]

ha! yes jack, i just got on to correct myself, and saw you beat me! sorry, memory has intermittent bad connections these days

[RandyMettler]

Geeze guys, we need to get these pipe sizes correct. Having to walk to the tool box twice is just not acceptable.

Simply amazing. You guys can remember the correct pipe sizes for parts that most people couldn't even recognize. Cas3, I think your memory is better than most.


Cheers

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by RandyMettler

oh yah. I see it on my 8BA. I wondered what that was. It has a long 12 inch vertical tube with what I will term a "chrome bell" mounted at the top. There is an electrical wire attached to the top of the bell. I don't have a top mounted oil filter. Mine is on the bottom driver side of the block. Is it possible to replace this electrical sending unit with a mechanical unit. I will post pictures tomorrow if needed. Are there better mechanical units than others?

I will also post pictures of my dash gages. I stumbled across them on line and they are not cheap. If I remember correctly around 500 dollars. Of course, this does not indicate quality, only selling price. I would like input on barners real world experience with the product.

Thanks

If your "bell" sending unit has a "dot" on the back it should be at the top of the bell when installed. It does have an up arrow on the unit. I have found it will effect the readings if it is straight not up.

[Ol' Ron]

A number of years ago I started an old engine on a tire, just to see how good it was. I had an oil pressure auge connected to the back of the block. Engine started right away and the oil pressure gage only read a few lbs at idle and 30 plus when reved up. I took the gauge off and started the engine. At idle the stream of oil coming out of the port went across the yard, sure pissed the wife off.

[RandyMettler]

I have attached pictures of my dash gages and oil sending unit mounted and up close on a bench. It may be a cheap generic one, there are no direction marks for mounting. I plan on going to the parts store to get a mechanical unit.

As far as the gages go, does anyone that recognize them have opinions their accuracy?

[JSeery]

Don't think that is an original Ford sending unit, it is most likely the sender that matches your gauges. It is also very, very likely that your gauges are reading correctly. But because it easy to double check the readings with a second mechanical one I think it would be worth the effort.
Love the look of your gauges!

[Ggmac]

Agree , non factory gauges . 12 volt to boot . Probably reading correct . Just get a mechanical to double check . You do have your gauges connected to 12 volt correctly ?

[Ggmac]

Randy , I see from your other posts a fuel /carb problem , any chance you thinned the oil with gas , or did you always have low oil pressure ?

[RandyMettler]

I change the oil after each test fire just to be safe because my fuel pump was leaking into my oil. Thanks to all the barners that pointed me in the correct direction, I have since purchased a new Charlie NY pump. Once I installed it I changed the oil again.

The other odd thing is, my understanding the 8BA blocks take 4 quarts of oil. My dipstick reads full at slightly over 3. This include preloading the filter before I thread it into the block. I don't know if my dipstick is incorrect for my 8BA block. I have attached pictures for those who know the correct style. It measures 18-1/2" overall.

The low oil pressure issue is not new. I bought the car because the compression is roughly 110 on all cylinders. I have only driven it a couple of times and I need to verify the cause of the low readings on the guage. No need to trash the compression if it is something as simple as a clogged pickup.

I was, and slightly still are having carb issues. I made great progress yesterday thanks again to all the barners help.

[tubman]

Are you sure you have the right dipstick, tube, and oil pan combination? There was a discussion about the different types of dipsticks and tubes on hear a few weeks ago. When I put a '51 Merc engine in my '51 Ford, I had to use the Ford oil pan. Without thinking, I used the Merc dipstick and tube in the Ford pan. I ended up with a problem like yours. The dipstick has to match the tube and the whole setup must match the pan. A lot of parts have ended up getting changed around on these cars over the last 70 or so years, and anything is possible.

[RandyMettler]

In response to your question Tubman.

Great point! I have the ford truck oil pan assemble originally from the 8RT. It has the large cleanout at the bottom.

So is 4 quarts pretty standard for the 8BA? If so, I need to dump the rest of the 4th quart in.

[RandyMettler]

JSeery, In response to your advice

"Sounds like the sender unit is on an upright tube. What if anything is attached to the side opening? If it was me I would attach a fairly cheap mechanical gauge to double check the electric sender and gauge. Cheaper and easier than pulling an engine".



Great advice! I would be on my back under the oil pan right now without your post. I purchased and rigged up a cheap mechanical guage like you suggested. The new guage reads 27-30 at idle an roughly 55 when reeved. Not sure if that is great readings, but better than zero!! My dash guage read zero at idle and roughly 15 when reeved with the electrical unit.

I guess I need to buy a new electrical oil sending unit or contact the manufacture of my aftermarket guage for suggestions. These gauges are new and should be accurate.

Thanks again JSeery

[RandyMettler]

Ggmac in response to your question,

"Agree , non factory gauges . 12 volt to boot . Probably reading correct . Just get a mechanical to double check . You do have your gauges connected to 12 volt correctly ? "


I did not install the electrical in the car so don't know absolutely if they are wired properly. The dash guage does read oil pressure, but not correctly. They do light up so chances are they are correct. All the other items in the guage read incorrectly. For instance, the battery guage is pegged but the alternator is not overcharging my battery. The electrical is all new, the interior was just completely re-finished by previous owner.

The battery I have is 12volts

That brings me back to a previous question does anyone have experience with these gauges-good/bad?