The Ford Barn

chuckwp · 09-24-2020, 10:52 AM

So, I am working on a 38 Flat Head that has not run in quite a while.
I got to the point of putting oil in it and cranking it to see if I have oil pressure.
This is not my car but, a project car I am working on. The history is sketchy but, I do know the engine has run in the past couple years. It has other things before it can drive but, for now I am just trying to see if it will run.
No oil pressure is evident in that there is no oil coming through the feed hose to the filter. The hose is not blocked or clogged. I have not cranked it long-less that 30 seconds.
Is it normal to be slow on building pressure or, do I have a cavitation problem?
The oil is VR1 20w50 so, it should have good cold pressure. The engine does have compression. I left the plugs out to increases cranking speed to help the pump prime. It is a 12 volt system.
If it is normal to have low cranking pressure, I will try a longer crank. Maybe it just has to run to get the pump to start moving oil. Suggestions?

09-24-2020, 10:52 AM	#1
chuckwp Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Posts: 53	No Oil Pressure While Cranking So, I am working on a 38 Flat Head that has not run in quite a while. I got to the point of putting oil in it and cranking it to see if I have oil pressure. This is not my car but, a project car I am working on. The history is sketchy but, I do know the engine has run in the past couple years. It has other things before it can drive but, for now I am just trying to see if it will run. No oil pressure is evident in that there is no oil coming through the feed hose to the filter. The hose is not blocked or clogged. I have not cranked it long-less that 30 seconds. Is it normal to be slow on building pressure or, do I have a cavitation problem? The oil is VR1 20w50 so, it should have good cold pressure. The engine does have compression. I left the plugs out to increases cranking speed to help the pump prime. It is a 12 volt system. If it is normal to have low cranking pressure, I will try a longer crank. Maybe it just has to run to get the pump to start moving oil. Suggestions?