billrigsby

I feel you on the drum brakes, I can't remember the last time I ever dealt with them things. Stone Age. It really was a learning curve, then kind of like looking for a checkbook these days, it took forever to find the drum brake tools I had. On the one ton, just getting those cross springs on is a real chore those are some tough springs. Glad mine are done, at least for now.

Decided that since I have a Harbor Freight 1 ton stand (that, based on the country of origin, metal and weld quality is probably good for 3/4 ton) Strip it back to a long block, I have no idea what a fully dressed engine weighs in at. Better safe than sorrier than we already are! So, back to where we were the first of November. Oil drained, need to drain fuel pump, filter and carb.

I am wondering, has anyone put an engine on an engine stand with the bellhousing in clutch installed? Or should I completely disassemble that also and just put the long block on the engine stand? I'm not asking if you would do it I'm asking if it has been done, I don't want to be the guinea pig LOL.

This is the other post I found about the same kind of failure, this was back in 2020 Oil Pump Failure I don't know what to tell you, I guarantee you there are hundreds if not thousands of these out there working just fine. But there are a fair number of posts on Facebook groups and at least one here, so it is a problem.

Teardown and Inspection

YES

I'll just look at this as a glass half-full, at least I get to index the oil pump correctly. I'm just pretending to not be pissed off right now, oh well. Excrement Occurs

Well I decided to go back out, can't leave well enough alone, since it's really not that well. Popped the cover off the oil pump and carefully flushed it with brake cleaner to see what might come out. I was hoping there'd be some big chunk of something that was obvious, but nothing. After I finally freed up the assembly, it takes five full rotations to make one full cycle. For every rotation there is a hard spot if you would call it that, where it kind of grabs. No obvious reason for failure, I'll button it up in case they want it back for the warranty. If there is one. I know the ones purchased from summit racing were replaced under warranty.

Yes I believe I use that phrase in @Bdblazer1978's post back in 2020 LOL.

I see they're also listing NOS I wonder if that really is the case or if it's a reproduction or aftermarket, I'm going to call them.

I'm torn man, even if I don't see any damage I'm half tempted to pull the cam and have it magnafluxed, or see what I've got on the shelf and put a different one in. Sometimes things just suck This is one of those times I was looking forward to the engine firing, sputtering, running rough and needing some dialing in, not this. Oh well, as the kids these days say, "it is what it is".

It was in the rebuild kit that I got from Clegg Engine, Melling M-37, I think. I just sent them an email asking about warranty information not that I want another one. Unless it is to sell on eBay. Seems to be a somewhat common problem, I did find the post I remembered seeing earlier here. FAILURE Unfortunately I'm going to have to pull the oil pan which means putting the engine back on the stand. If nothing else to get rid of all the little bits and pieces. I don't see a way to inspect the camshaft without doing that anyway, I don't have a borescope which might get you in there I'm not sure. AAARRRGGG ?

YEP It's $^&(*&% seized and worthless, lets hope the camshaft is better made, son of a ________! Looked online couldn't find a NOS Part, wonder if one of my old originals is worth using I don't think I want another Melling melon. The proverbial one step forward and this time ten steps back depending upon how deep I have to dig into this engine again.

YEP It's $^&(*&% seized and worthless, lets hope the camshaft is better made, son of a ________ Moving this to my Build Thread FRUSTRATION

Well, decided to leave the oil pump as is and rearrange the wires, can fix it later if need be.. Set static timing, cranked over the engine and nada. Pulled the cap and no rotation..... 20220107_131901.mp4 Pulled the distributor and looking down at the oil pump, also no rotation..... 20220107_132505.mp4 I know it WAS working, after installing an oil pressure gauge, I bleed the line of air, til oil came out. I recall someone else had an issue with a new Melling oil pump, searched but could not find it. Might have been @Brent B3B , not sure. Guess I am pulling the pump, hoping it all comes out in one piece and there is no further engine surgery required, back to frustration.

That would be my guess.

Well, decided to leave the oil pump as is and rearrange the wires, can fix it later if need be.. Set static timing, cranked over the engine and nada. Pulled the cap and no rotation..... 20220107_131901.mp4 Pulled the distributor and looking down at the oil pump, also no rotation..... 20220107_132505.mp4 I know it WAS working, after installing an oil pressure gauge, I bleed the line of air, til oil came out. I recall someone else had an issue with a new Melling oil pump, searched but could not find it. Might have been @Brent B3B , not sure. Guess I am pulling the pump, hoping it all comes out in one piece and there is no further engine surgery required, back to frustration.

So, while unfortunately I cannot offer any guidance I am definitely watching this thread, I'm in the same boat 30 years ago I painted my interior and engine bay with the dark green. Exterior is all DP40 epoxy primer, also, everything's been covered unless in transport, from CA to CO. Hopefully this all works out for you.

Replace with a DELCO Battery for GOOD SERVICE for a LONG TIME.pdf View File Not DODGE, but a cool old battery ad, 1949 Submitter billrigsby Submitted 01/02/2022 Category Marketing Brochures  

ANNOUNCING ''Job-Rated Door-to-Door Delivery Vehicles DODGE ''ROUTE-VANS''.pdf View File 1949 Route-Van ad - ANNOUNCING ''Job-Rated Door-to-Door Delivery Vehicles DODGE ''ROUTE-VANS'' Submitter billrigsby Submitted 01/02/2022 Category Marketing Brochures  

Yes I do want it to fire on number one and, yes I'm pretty sure I'm not going crazy and I did re-index the oil pump. I guess I'll have to just double check the oil pump at this point, having known that I did it, I think I was just overly freaking out at something terribly disastrous had happened. Thanks for the replies and comments, hopefully it's just old age setting in, since I have no pictures. There will be pictures this time.

When I assembled the engine I had the timing gears set Early November questioned the distributor being off, not at 7 o'clock Indexed the oil pump and all seemed OK ( https://p15-d24.com/topic/56780-distributor-install-question/ ) (no photo) Now I go to do the static timing and at TDC find the distributor is once again off, seems to be between two wire contacts Guess I need to go back to the beginning and start by checking the timing chain, then remove the oil pump again not sure what is going on, frustrating - one step forward and two back again thoughts? Going away for the weekend, be a nice break, but this will be waiting! Happy New Year all

That I did not see! Been a frustrating day that's my story and I'm sticking to it LOL