Engine goes to the shop

[David H.]

My friend Bill and I took my engine to the machine shop today. It's a great place where guys like us can go and marvel at the great equipment they have. They let us hang close to my engine and watch the process of tearing it down to bare block. They even let me help get the pistons out. Here is what we found. Original pistons and 4" original bore. Replacement cam. Original crankshaft. Little or no ring ridge. May be able to just hone it out. Likely replacement solid lifters. Replacement valves. Original 461 X heads. Next step is Magniflux for cracks. Hopefully there wont be any of that. Interesting find on the oil pump screen attachment. Bubba has been at it again!

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

My friend Bill and I took my engine to the machine shop today. It's a great place where guys like us can go and marvel at the great equipment they have. They let us hang close to my engine and watch the process of tearing it down to bare block. They even let me help get the pistons out. Here is what we found. Original pistons and 4" original bore. Replacement cam. Original crankshaft. Little or no ring ridge. May be able to just hone it out. Likely replacement solid lifters. Replacement valves. Original 461 X heads. Next step is Magniflux for cracks. Hopefully there wont be any of that. Interesting find on the oil pump screen attachment. Bubba has been at it again!

David------


The oil pump modification is someone's version of a "safety wire". It's not conventional and it's sort of ugly but it should be somewhat effective in ensuring the pick-up does not fall off the pump.

[Lynn H.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

I seen quite a few "designs" to keep the pickup in place mostly in racing roundy round cars, and this is far from unusual. Lots of guys like to braze them on, but I have seen and read conflicting information on the brazing solution (both pro and con). I usually drill the casting and locktite a set screw to hold it on myself. I have also seen the results from the oil tube coming off, and although ugly this is preferable to the damage inflicted by immediate loss of oil pressure at high RPM.
Lynn

[John F.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

David, Great pics! I would take all I could during disassembly & reassembly. If deck pad is okay don't let them near it w/o you being there.
John F

[Jack H.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

I seen quite a few "designs" to keep the pickup in place mostly in racing roundy round cars, and this is far from unusual. Lots of guys like to braze them on, but I have seen and read conflicting information on the brazing solution (both pro and con). I usually drill the casting and locktite a set screw to hold it on myself. I have also seen the results from the oil tube coming off, and although ugly this is preferable to the damage inflicted by immediate loss of oil pressure at high RPM.
Lynn

Yep.
You may want to thank Bubba.

[Joe L.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

I seen quite a few "designs" to keep the pickup in place mostly in racing roundy round cars, and this is far from unusual. Lots of guys like to braze them on, but I have seen and read conflicting information on the brazing solution (both pro and con). I usually drill the casting and locktite a set screw to hold it on myself. I have also seen the results from the oil tube coming off, and although ugly this is preferable to the damage inflicted by immediate loss of oil pressure at high RPM.
Lynn

Lynn------


There are two reasons that oil pick-up screen assemblies come off. First, an oil pick-up screen is removed from the pump and later re-installed. In this case, most of the interference fit is lost but enough is usually retained to make someone "think" it's ok.

Second, a new oil pick-up screen assembly is not driven in to the orifice "straight-and-true". The latter is probably, by far, the most common reason for a pick-up falling out.

If a new pick-up is driven in "straight-and-true" there should never be a problem with it coming out. Millions of factory installations were done this way. However, it's always a good idea to tack weld/braze or otherwise add retention insurance. This is especially important if one is not sure if the second reason for oil pick-up fall-out, described above, might have occurred.

[Jerry W.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

nice to see that you have the stock windage tray and i hope the stock oil pan....hang on to that pan.....they are near impossible to find

[Lynn H.]

Re: Engine goes to the shop

Lynn------


There are two reasons that oil pick-up screen assemblies come off. First, an oil pick-up screen is removed from the pump and later re-installed. In this case, most of the interference fit is lost but enough is usually retained to make someone "think" it's ok.

Second, a new oil pick-up screen assembly is not driven in to the orifice "straight-and-true". The latter is probably, by far, the most common reason for a pick-up falling out.

If a new pick-up is driven in "straight-and-true" there should never be a problem with it coming out. Millions of factory installations were done this way. However, it's always a good idea to tack weld/braze or otherwise add retention insurance. This is especially important if one is not sure if the second reason for oil pick-up fall-out, described above, might have occurred.

Joe,
I wholeheartedly agree. Most of the "racers" feel the need to disassemble and reassemble EVERYTHING whether it needs it or not, and this can cause the problems you described. I have never seen a factory installed pickup come off, and have even installed new gears and cover plates on factory pump bodies with no wear, just to have the factory installed pickup assembly (depending what it is to be used for). I have only had the experience of rebuilding one motor myself where the pickup came off in a drag race car, that had an aftermarket pickup installed for the deep sump pan. It had actually held up for some time, but when the owner of said vehicle thought nitrous would be more fun, it came apart on the first run. Amazing how quickly a lot of damage can be done in that situation with no oil pressure. Since then I most always use the set screw if the pick up has been removed, and I braze them if not, just for the sake of not having a motor come back (which I have never had-KNOCKING ON WOOD) over something so simple.

Lynn