VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc Oil in 194ci 1931

Thanks all---I think I will try Chev Nut suggestion first. If I don't get oil moving I will move on to the distributor option!
(Or maybe Chippers idea of letting the wifey do it !! LOL )

spin it over with the starter until the oil pressure gauge needle moves.

Stovblt yes slipper and removable insert bearings are the same. They are often a steel backing with a copper bonding agent then a very thin coating of white metal. While they have a good oil supply they rend to wear better but are generally not adjustable.
Tony

Hi guys,as per ChevNuts advice,after replacing sterile oil pan,gaskets ,corks,5qts 10-30,I removed the plugs and cranked the motor for about 40 seconds and the oil gauge went from 0 to 5---so I stopped at that point.That kind of gave me the feeling the oil pump is working---I did this with the valve cover off ...I do not see any oil coming out anywhere along the rocker arm assembly or anywhere else.Before I turned over the motor I gave each cyl. a squirt of Marvel Mystry Oil to be safe. Now,behind the carb is a copper tube with a nut and ferrule fitting that goes up into the block,so,I loosened the nut and ferrule,had my buddy crank it a few times (plugs are back in now) and there was oil pulsating out of that loose fitting indicating to me the pump seems to be pumping .Should I not be seeing oil pumping out somewhere around the rocker arm assembly---I got nothing up there at all. Thanks for walking me thru these baby steps fellas...Jay

It will take much longer running the oil pump to get oil all the way up to the rocker arms. If you turn the engine over for 20-30 seconds five or more times (with starter cool down time in between) you should see oil dripping from the center rockers and then finally reaching no. 1 and no. 6. It is critical to fill the reservoirs that oil the main bearings before running the engine. I prefer to make sure all rotating parts have oil before the engine is started.

Thanks Chipper---when you say "fill the reservoirs" that oil the main bearings,that is simply a matter of cranking the engine,without actually starting it until I get oil flowing everywhere,is that correct? Thank you again..

Pull the spark plugs before you crank it. It'll take nearly all the load off of the starter. It'll crank faster which will get oil to where it needs to go faster, won't over heat the starter as quickly and take away any chance of accidental startup.

Hi again Tiny,yes I did pull the plugs out again to lessen the load while cranking----Thanks again,Jay

Good morning everyone,Today I cranked the motor over with plugs removed for 30-40 seconds,waited 5 minutes,repeated ---I did that 6 times and finally got about 6 drops of oil dripping from where the two rocker assemblies join in the middle....no sign of any oil at either #1 or #6 cyl. I have no idea as to how much oil should be coming out of the rocker assembly but something tells me there should be more than a few drops ! Can you fellas give me an idea of what the flow should look like? The oil pressure gauge moves from 0 to about 4lbs when cranking. Also,I notice there is ONE push rod that is really big---twice the diameter of all the rest and it has a raised "0" cast on it ?? Is that normal or is it possibly a replacement?? Thank you all for your wonderful help and being so patient with the rookie !!

Hi jay32249

As Chipper pointed out above, it will take quite a bit of cranking just to get oil to show at the center of the rocker arm assembly.
The fact that you have ANY oil up there while cranking with the starter suggests to me that you are ready to go.
And 4 psi while cranking a 1931 engine sounds like lots of oil pump flow.
Especially if you still have the original style vane pump.

Oil should reach all of the rocker arms once you have the engine started and running.

Oh, and 1 different push rod means it is definitely a replacement.

Well ok then,I feel really good about the oil now !!! Thank you so very much !!! WHEW !!

Given the latest info you are ready to fire it up at least as the oiling system is concerned.

Thank you all for all the great help !! New battery is in the car and I think I am ready to fire the old dog up !!