Ansel Marrow Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Ahhh, working on cars. You spend all day fixing one thing and something else acts up. Ok like I said, this is all a big lesson for me, Im learning a LOT. So, as I got the oil pan back on a week ago, I noticed it was indented. I showed my mechanic friend, he said it looked like someone jacked the car up on the oil pan (!!!!!) and that it was VERY bad. He said the oil is drawn from a quarter inch gap at the bottom of the oil pan, and if it doesnt get any oil, the oil pressure is really bad. Stupidly, I wrote this off (till today), he told me to get a new oil pan asap. So 3 days later (today) Im cruising, car is fine, nice sunny day, when the valves go CRAZY. They start snapping and rattling like nuts, so I drive the car slowly home (20 mins). I buy a new oil pan and oil pickup from summit, 2 day shipping, and hope that I can: a)put on the new oil pan and pickup b)adjust the valves c)be happy and drive it but my mechanic friend told me there could be further damage. Im not driving it till I get the oil pan i nthe mail (also, spent 9 hours taking off the gas tank and fixing the leak, ran all new lines so thats ok). Anyways, Im open to any and all advice, references, and suggestions as to what Im doing wrong, if anything. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Your friend could be right. You may have starved your engine of oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ansel Marrow Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 What Im mainly worried about is permenant damage, which I have no idea what could be wrong. It runs cool, so thats sortof a relief, but one of my pals said all my valves and springs would have to be replaced. Im just looking for long term damage, and what signs would hint at this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt1 Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 Did you lose oil pressure? Hydraulic or solid cam? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ansel Marrow Posted August 31, 2006 Author Share Posted August 31, 2006 No oil gauge. Its on my list now. I dont know if its hydraulic or solid. Its a 84 camaro engine, 305 5.0 liter. I have literally no oil on my top end. I just got done with a hour long conversation with him, he said possible permenant damage could be a rounded off cam, and the bent in oil pan has been like this since I got the car. So ho boy, this could be why I dont get as much power as I expect from it. Updates to come, Im pulling valve covers to check for valve damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 If you have other damage, it's likely bearings, cam, lifters, might have galled the rockers too. If you did, take this fine opportunity to build a 350 and experience some more power. Even if you buy a crate GM engine for $1700 it'll run alot better than the 305. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zwitha383 Posted August 31, 2006 Share Posted August 31, 2006 If you have other damage, it's likely bearings, cam, lifters, might have galled the rockers too. If you did, take this fine opportunity to build a 350 and experience some more power. Even if you buy a crate GM engine for $1700 it'll run alot better than the 305. I agree. A 305 is a good engine to beat up on and learn from. Oil pressure gauge is NOT an option! I like the Nissan guage because as soon as you lose pressure the light comes on immediately before the needle has time to move all the way down. Live and learn, then ditch the boat anchor . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Yeah, back in the days, I had a 1976 v8 vega, let a buddy drive it and he smashed the oil pan on a rock, I told him i had to pull it and fix it, he thought it'd be alright. Shelled out the next day! Been there done that already! Wisdom of experience is great, just that some of the experience that lead to the wisdom was not so good and expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240zV8 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 I got a question (sorry about hijacking the thread) but what does it mean if my oil gauge only reads sometimes, the only time it reads is when i'm sitting still at idle (and the neddle is shaking in the middle vigorously)... otherwise it's always far right not even on the scale... Is there a short in the connection or somthing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dr_hunt Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 Maybe if it's an electrical gauge. If your running alot of oil pressure it can have that effect on a sender. Try a mechanical gauge that reads to 100psi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240zV8 Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 well it's a stock 91 chevy truck gauge cluster...... and the temp gauge stopped working a couple weeks ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike kZ Posted September 1, 2006 Share Posted September 1, 2006 well it's a stock 91 chevy truck gauge cluster...... and the temp gauge stopped working a couple weeks ago Probably a faulty gauge or sender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z48LT-1 Posted September 4, 2006 Share Posted September 4, 2006 Ansel, Have you received the Summit oil pan and pickup yet? Did you order the G3503X? Any comments about fit/quality? You see, I have a similar situation but the engine is far from being run. It's a '95 Carprice LT1 that I got off ebay. I noticed some wrinkles in the sides of the oil pan that I figure got there from the pounding the oil pan got by the engine coming cross country (it was resting on the oil pan sump and a stack of 2x4s under the front of the pan). I was going to ignore it until you related your tale of woe, so I figure I owe you. Next time you're in San Antonio, the beer's on me. Now to hijack the thread since the rest of this is all about me. The Summit oil pan says it's for up to '95 but it has a dipstick provision. My LT1 has a block mounted dipstick so I assume simply plugging the one in the pan will be OK (maybe I'll just run two dipsticks so I can brag about dual dipsticks in my sig...), and I recognize this pan won't have the oil level sensor boss, which I'm fine living without. But the question is, is the LT1 oil pan different from Gen 1 SBCs in any significant way? Anyone know? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ansel Marrow Posted September 4, 2006 Author Share Posted September 4, 2006 Hey, No Im still waiting on it, hopefully shows up before I move later this week. I rewired a bunch of switches while I am waiting, to notice my windshield wipers decided not to work. So thats fun. Ill let everyone know as soon as it shows up, and I bolt it on and adjust the valves. My mechanic friend said as long as there was no REAL noise (all I heard was the valves) then the engine should be ok. Very big lesson learned here. DONT ignore oil pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbk240z Posted September 5, 2006 Share Posted September 5, 2006 The main difference in the oil pans between an old Gen I SBC, and an LT1, is that the SBC uses a 2 piece rear oil seal, the LT1 uses a one piece. I think the LT1 oil pan gasket is all one piece as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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