Ummmm Guys Im almost done my winter project of rebuilding my 350 (thats the good part) I allready put the finished engine back in the car and have everything wired up.

Anyway I primed the oil pump and was putting the oil pump intermediat shaft in when I found out that the shaft was supposed to go in before the pump went in~!!!!!! Due to the metal sleave (plastic oem)that goes over the pump and is pinned onto the shaft (too thick to go through the hole). I talked to some tech guys at my work (gm) and they say the sleeve needs to go on or else the shaft will wobble on the pump and cause damage to the pump and will eventually blow my engine up (bad thing after all the money and time Ive poured into this damn thing). I tryed to take the oil pan down but even with lifting the engine all the way up out of the mounts (but still hooked to the trans) the pan wont come out. Im going to try to get the pump out with the pan on a tilt (it moves around but wont go past the flywheel and the oil pickup tube is REALLY in there).

Anyone ever find themselves in this B.S. position?? I think Ill end up taking the engine out but I really dont Wanna. Im taking a sabatical from the whole job right now (WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR.......................) And will finish it up one way or another as soon as we get a 50 degree day on a weekend.

Dan

any past experiences are apreciated. Oh yea engine and oil pan are out of an 85 vette so its the old two piece oil seal.



89 GTA 350 T Tops, Kinda nice but wont move right now.

 

Sorry to say it but the best thing to do is pull the motor back out. You could probably do it in the car but getting that oil pan to reseal is usually a pain. I do think someone came out with a one piece oil pan gasket for those old 2-piece rear main blocks.(Mr. Gasket?) That might make it easier to reseal. Sorry of your luck. Have been in similar situations before seeing how I work at the GM dealer all day, every day! I wish you luck.

Andy

 

Actually I do have the one piece rubber gskt on there. Is there any way to sneak the shaft by the oil pump while its still bolted in or does it totally cover the hole?


Dan.

 

don't bother trying to do it from the bottom unles you can get the pan all the way out. Either way, you will still have to pull the oil pump.

 

Well looks like Ill be pulling the motor (again!) , oh well no reason to whine about it. Ill wait till its 50 degrees again though!! Thanks for the offer of help Jason, Ill call you on it if things get messy, but really I aught to be able to handle it, unless you just like to watch someone bust knuckles and shout out swear words torward an engineer I never met for their complete lack of forsight when doing their job! Maybe we can hang this summer, I saw your site and your Camaro looks tough (IE can kick my 3rd gens ***, most 4th gens can, but who knows Ive done a lot of mods this time around!).

Anyway thanks to all for the input Ill see you all at the next meet after my car is back together and the weather is fit for man or beast again.

Dan




89 GTA 350 T tops, being rebuilt for more POWER

 

Oh its a 3.8. I usually beat those pretty regular.

Dan

 

Thanks for the offer. Like I said if things get messy........

My car is kinda stock on the outside but not so under the skin. The rear suspension is all competition engineering, exhaust is all custom, and the engine should be a beast when done (well a beast to me at any rate). I was doing 14.6's with the stock tired (f'd) engine. Should be in the solid low 13's after Im done.

Dan