Roadside help!!!!

Discussion in 'General Automotive Tech' started by $arge, Jun 7, 2009.

  1. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    Roadside help!!!! CODY WY

    So im on my trip headed towards GA, the trip has been going great other than the crappy gas mileage but great non the less.
    so i pull into the hotel shut the wagon off and ask for a room, i get one then i go to restart the wagon and i hear this loud clacking noise coming from the roickers!!! and the oil light is on! so i shut it down and began to weep!
    im thinking it might either be the oil pump or the oil pump drive shaft. its a ford 390 by the way for those that dont know.
    none of the parts stores open till tomorrow so i have some forced time to think. help.
    Raf
    p.s. Oil is fresh as of last fri. oil filter is fresh, its got oil and coolant and the dizzy spins as it should. how do you ck for a bad oil pump with no oil gauge? (classic cluster)
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2009
  2. HandyAndy

    HandyAndy Well-Known Member

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    That's rough luck.
    I suppose you're going to have to find someone locally to drop the oil pan, which might require lifting the engine.
    What about pulling the dizzy and looking down the hole with a flashlight?
    Are you comfortable with putting it back in? Do you have tools?
    What is the oil level? Did you lose any?
     
  3. Eagle Freek

    Eagle Freek Well-Known Member

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    Why don't don't you post where you're at in the topic title. Maybe there is a member of the forum near you that may be able to assist with some garage space or tools.
     
  4. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    i didnt loose any oil, yes i can pull the dizzy and retime it, i know the shaft drives the oil pump from the dizzy, but theres no parts available as of the moment and im out of sunlight.
    im going to go to the nearest napa or carquest and such and look for a oil pump and shaft, oil pan gasket and something to drain the oil into. and of course new oil. if anyone knows how to ck it besides the obvious oil light is on and the clacking please let me know.

    im in Cody WY
     
  5. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    Loud clack from the rockers? Lousy gas mileage? Collapsed lifter?

    Andy's probably right. Pull the Distributor and see if the oil pump shaft is ok. If it is, get some valve cover gaskets and check the lifters. Are they hydraulic or Solid lifters? A bad pushrod could do that noise too.

    Next question, what other engines have the same parts? 430 cid? I can't recall if the 429 or 427 were based on the 390.

    Hope its not the pump. Nasty roadside job. Good luck.
     
  6. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    thanks norm.
    i will have to pull the dizzy this morning and see whats up, can i change the pump driveshaft from the top, or do i have to replace it via the oil pump side?
    since i have no oil pressure im thinking thats problably the main culprit. i remember reading somwhere that the shaft is the weak link.
    i just hope that whatever it is its something simple and parts are available.
    Raf
     
  7. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    If it broke, it's in the pan and your crank is sloshing it around. :( Also, if it broke the Distributor tail will be marked up from where it fits in the slot, or the gear will be mangled. Does the engine turn over at all, this morning?
     
  8. $arge

    $arge New Member

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    it turns over and starts just no pressure, oil light is on and clacking is there. im gettin ready to go down there again. i guess ill have to wait on a store to open.
    ill let you know what i find.
     
  9. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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  10. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    OK, I'm on Autozone's repair manuals. You may not be able to see this page (FREE registration is available. This is for a 1968 to 1972 7.0 or 7.5 Litre engine. Didn't try for 1965 - they only go back so far, but the big blocks were in during those years.

    You have to drop the pan to change the pump. Check other stuff first. Here's the link to the pump:
    http://www.autozone.com/autozone/re...ChapterTitle=Oil+Pump&partId=0900c15280053b00


    Here's the link to the Autozone site:
    http://www.autozone.com/autozone/homePage.jsp
     
  11. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    Autozone's repair guide system goes to the first item by default. You have to pick the Engine item, which shows Engine Electrical first. So on the LH you scroll down to Oil Pump for a quick review. It says to see the Oil Pan item (LH menu), which goes to the Rad Removal. You'll need a floor jack and a couple wooden blocks (one below the jack so it doesn't sink in the parking lot), and one above to raise the block and hold it up one inch above the crossmember.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2009
  12. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    IIRC, the 408 CID was a truck engine, so the local utility (City, Hydro, Road repair) shops might have parts on hand too. Even 390 parts.
     
  13. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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  14. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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    I'm not a pessimist, but if it turns over and starts, it could be a dropped valve.:slap: I don't really think it is. With oil sump down off the pump, that might give you the 'Low Oil' warning, and make the clacking noise via the crankshaft hitting the sump, sloshing around in the pan. If it's a regular 'clacking', then I'd suspect a valve issue too. Maybe look at the pan to see if its been 'bumped' out by the sump?

    The next thing would be which head has the valve flopping around. Any unusual amount smoke out the tailpipe?

    No oil pressure and starting means the timing chain and gears are OK, but the oil isn't being picked up. Which likely means that the clacking is from an empty hydraulic lifter.

    Pickup a Haynes or Chilton for any of the 390 cars - TBird, Cougar, LTD, trucks, etc.
     
  15. Stormin' Norman

    Stormin' Norman Well-Known Member

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