[HJones1313]

Just thought you guys might get a kick out of my custom oil pump driveshaft. The motor was ready to be fired up, way back in 2007, and did so, but with zero oil pressure. A few minutes of troubleshooting revealed the tip of the oil pump driveshaft seriously bent. The motor didn't come apart 'til last year, and the shaft dropped out of the block when the oil pump was removed. Amazingly, there was no damage to the block, shaft passage or anything else, but it did make me decide to go through the motor (428), with new main & rod bearings, new cam, oil pump & driveshaft, gear drive, balancer, pan, micro polish the crank, polish the rods, deburr the block and heads, port the heads and put them back together with new valves, springs, retainers etc. Sadly, the motor has only about 2000 miles on it since the first rebuild in 1984. Yes, I move veeeery slowly. What's most irritating about this whole ordeal is the fact that I have no-one to blame except myself. When installing the distributor I experienced a tight fit, but after a couple of tries it slipped into place. The only thing I can come up with is that I couldn't have engaged the driveshaft correctly, ultimately causing the shaft to bend like a pretzel. I guess I'm just fortunate that little damage was done.

[hurryinhoosier62]

Had the same thing happen in 1988 with a 400 I built using an H-O racing oil pump drive shaft.

[gtofreek]

Are you sure that shaft wasn't installed upside down? The broken/bent end should have been in the distributor. Just can't see how that could have happened from installing the distributor.

[HJones1313]

I'm positive it was in the right way. I'm thinking the drive wasn't engaged?

[HJones1313]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

Had the same thing happen in 1988 with a 400 I built using an H-O racing oil pump drive shaft.

Did you ever figure out what went wrong?

[rohrt]

Had the same thing happen as well. When I pulled my distributor out the oil pump rod came us well then dropped back in missing the oil pump shaft. I broke the loop in the block and busted the tip end of the oil pump.

Fixed with a new oil pump rod from Nightmare Performance.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=679107

Sorry the picture links no longer work.

[HJones1313]

Originally Posted by rohrt

Had the same thing happen as well. When I pulled my distributor out the oil pump rod came us well then dropped back in missing the oil pump shaft. I broke the loop in the block and busted the tip end of the oil pump.

Fixed with a new oil pump rod from Nightmare Performance.

http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=679107

Sorry the picture links no longer work.

What's the "loop in the block"? I also bought a Nitemare pump rod as a precaution; $50, but I think it's a wise investment.

[Blued and Painted]

Question is, how does it run now or do we need to wait until 2525 (if man is still alive)for an up date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQFFO2ZQ-o

[hurryinhoosier62]

Originally Posted by HJones1313

Did you ever figure out what went wrong?

The driveshaft wasn't fully engaged with the oil pump. Upon start-up, it twisted out of position and locked the engine. Had to remove the engine and disassemble the bottom end to get the somewhat pretzel-like driveshaft out.

[HJones1313]

Originally Posted by Blued and Painted

Question is, how does it run now or do we need to wait until 2525 (if man is still alive)for an up date.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUQFFO2ZQ-o

Aaaah, very subtly veiled sarcasm...........I'm working on it.

[HJones1313]

Originally Posted by hurryinhoosier62

The driveshaft wasn't fully engaged with the oil pump. Upon start-up, it twisted out of position and locked the engine. Had to remove the engine and disassemble the bottom end to get the somewhat pretzel-like driveshaft out.

Locked the engine.....ouch.

[rohrt]

Originally Posted by HJones1313

What's the "loop in the block"? I also bought a Nitemare pump rod as a precaution; $50, but I think it's a wise investment.

The loop that I was talking about.



The carnage I got out of the oil pan.



The new shaft was very nice as you know



To lazy to pull the motor. I don't think it saved any work or time doing it this way.

[HJones1313]

I see what you mean now rohrt. Agreed, the Nitemare part is definitely all business. I was going to do the same as you, but things snowballed so the motor got yanked.

[lust4speed]

Originally Posted by rohrt

Had the same thing happen as well. When I pulled my distributor out the oil pump rod came up...

I've seen this happen several times with aftermarket shafts that don't have the tangs to stop the upward movement. No reason to not use an aftermarket piece, you just have to take a little extra time to insure the shaft is still sitting properly on the oil pump shaft before sticking the distributor back in.

The driveshaft runs right next to the crankshaft counter weight, and if it moves over even a little bit, the crankshaft makes a pretzel out of it.

[72LuxuryLeMansLa.]

Originally Posted by lust4speed

I've seen this happen several times with aftermarket shafts that don't have the tangs to stop the upward movement. No reason to not use an aftermarket piece, you just have to take a little extra time to insure the shaft is still sitting properly on the oil pump shaft before sticking the distributor back in.

The driveshaft runs right next to the crankshaft counter weight, and if it moves over even a little bit, the crankshaft makes a pretzel out of it.

Mick,

I have a Melling Oil Pump Part# 10540 which is their Select or High Performance 60PSI pump that Ace used to sell at Pacific Performance Racing. I bought the Melling shaft part# IS-54A. Is there any problem using this shaft that you know of? I figured that for only 60PSI a special shaft wasn't required.
It seems to me that the only way this could go wrong is that it isn't installed correctly and there is only one way for it to fit, or bad steel that just snaps.......

[Blued and Painted]

Best of luck with your re-due. Stuff Happens. Hope you can enjoy your car by spring.

[HJones1313]

Originally Posted by Blued and Painted

Best of luck with your re-due. Stuff Happens. Hope you can enjoy your car by spring.

Thats the plan, get the motor (short block) back together and in the car, do the heads and get them back on and then have it running by spring.

[gtofreek]

Originally Posted by 72LuxuryLeMansLa.

Mick,

I have a Melling Oil Pump Part# 10540 which is their Select or High Performance 60PSI pump that Ace used to sell at Pacific Performance Racing. I bought the Melling shaft part# IS-54A. Is there any problem using this shaft that you know of? I figured that for only 60PSI a special shaft wasn't required.
It seems to me that the only way this could go wrong is that it isn't installed correctly and there is only one way for it to fit, or bad steel that just snaps.......

I used that pump and although it claimed 60 psi, it made over 100 lbs. cold and 80 something hot. Beware. Good pump otherwise. Has anyone else had this issue?

[72LuxuryLeMansLa.]

Originally Posted by gtofreek

I used that pump and although it claimed 60 psi, it made over 100 lbs. cold and 80 something hot. Beware. Good pump otherwise. Has anyone else had this issue?

Paul,

Are you sure it wasn't the 10541 instead of the 10540? The 10541 is an 80PSI pump.

[gtofreek]

Back when I got it, there was only one available. I'm not sure now, I thought it was the 10540. Been using the M-54D since.