VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 oil pressure 1931

does anyone know of a way to increase the oil pressure in the 1931 194 cid engine? Is it possible to use a later style pump i.e the pump from a 216 cid engine? If you can help me send me an e-mail, or your phone number and I will get back to you. My cel phone # is 920-242-1567. My name is william I richter. Me e-mail address is wir@lsol.net Thanx

High oil pressure is not necessary in a 1929-31 engine as the rods and main bearings are not pressure lubricated.The oil pump moves oil up to the pockets and gravity does the rest.The pump merely moves the oil to the various locations.7-10 lbs. at speed is enough.
After WWII Chevrolet made a kit to install a 1937-39 gear pump in pre 1937 models.You now have a vane type pump.The kit contained the pump,lines, fittings and screen.It was part number 604507.


A newer pump gear pump to replace the original is available from...www.fillingstation.com ...for $159.50 + a new screen.

If your present pump is working OK it should not be necessary.

I recently changed my oilpump out. The original pump like Chevy Nut said is a Vain type pump. When cold, the pressure is greater than after it gets to operating temperatures it drops off.
I too compared the low pressure to what I can relate to in modern engines. It just isn't the same as CN explained. I changed to the new style pump which is a gear type. Once I got the old pump out for inspection I found the vain springs were broken. My fear was I would not get proper lubrication. After I went through all the above I feel good but....... guess what! Pressure still drops back down to about 7-10 lbs once up to temp.
The motor is just fine........
Shocks

Shocks: As Chev Nut said it is supposed to. When the oil is cold, the pressure will peg the needle on the oil pressure gauge, and when the oil is hot, the pressure will run between 5 and 10 pounds. Your pump is doing good! With the factory installed first design vane type of oil pump, when the oil is hot and the car is at idle, the oil pressure would run from about 1 to 3 pounds. You can't compare readings on a modern engine with the readings on the 1929-32 194 engine because they are not the same due to engine design and the type of oil pumps used. :eek: :eek:

Pressure is not the key figure as long as you have some. What is desirable is volume. The vane type pump does a reasonable job of providing pressure, but the key is the volume of oil to fill the reservoirs and troughs in the engine. In some cases the conversion to a gear type pumps accomplishes both missions, but the downside is the tendency to provide enough oil to cause additional leaking.

I agree with the experts. Early on i was advised to get the pressure up. That is why I spent the time and money to protect my power plant. The gain here is understanding pressure is a good indicator but "FLOW" is what you want. As I got more educated it became more noticable that the lines going up to the oil distributor and futher up to the valves that open lines was a concern as well. Much like my world in electricity oil too will flow to the path of the least resistance.
I feel better that Ijumped in, which gave me a better understanding on how this engine operates
This all has been a great expeience for me and I thank you all for your guidance. It's a constant learning process......Shocks

Ohms law works for oil pressure as well as for electricity.

Shocks! I too replaced my old vane type pump to to a 37 gear pump and screen. I feel alot better knowing I`m getting volume. I bought mine from a man in my local VCCA club, it was a brand new reprodution unit I forgot what I paid for it but if memory serves me right it was less than $159.00. His name is Gary Wallace
ph#314-293-1911
Ray is right about when creating a little more pressure you create leaks since the 194 has no crank seals.

I am in the process of replacing the oil pump in a 1932. Is the vane type pump inadequate? Should I spend the extra dollars for a gear type pump? Thank you.

Why are you replacing the pump?

Hoppy
I have rebuilt my engine as part of a frame off. My old vane pump leaks through the bushing, but does develop pressure. I thought I should replace the pump for insurance.

confcoach: That is a smart move! Always replace the oil pump when rebuilding the engine. That is great insurance!

JYD
Could you reply to my question of vane versus gear?

Naturally, the gear pump is the better pump as compared to the second design vane pump, but both types will serve you well.

confcoach: I also replaced my vane oil pump with a new gear pump. Since I spent many hard earned bucks completely rebuilding the l94 I sure didn`t want to take any shortcuts on an oil pump. I got mine from Gary Wallace 314-293-1911 or E-Mail: chev4cyl@swbell.net He is a VCCA member of the Greater St. Louis Region. He has new pumps and screens. It works great too. :)

Actually the volume of the second design vane pump is greater than the replacement gear pump. It will not generate as much pressure if you restrict the output but is as good or better than a gear pump. That assumes that both are in good condition. If the vanes are not significantly worn then you can reuse the pump. I have done it many times on freshly rebuilt engines. I have also replaced vane pumps with rebuilt or NORS vane pumps if the one on the engine was too worn. And I have a couple of later gear pumps produced by GM in the 40s to 50s. See no need to install one of them.

And I drive my vehicles. Just returned from the VCCA Southern Spring Tour and 300+ miles on the old '31 Fire Truck. It has over 1800 miles on a used vane pump. Produces 10+ psig at 45 mph in high gear. About 4 psig at idle when hot.

If people would use their heads instead of other parts of their bodies then they would know that original parts worked pretty darn good. How do you think that all those miles got put on those vehicles? It was not with the modern replacement parts!! And they drove on dusty dirt roads, with accordian ruts, used inferior oils and greases. Still the vehicles racked up many thousands of miles. Today our old Chevys have much better roads, less abrasives, better lubricants and way better maintanence.

Chipper , Did you get to develop a tune or two for your new recording contract?