Priming 350 oil system after oil pan removed for a few days?

He stated in the OP it was removed along with filter adapter and the pump cover.

 

Thanks for all the help so far everyone. I set this project aside for a few days to make some progress on rust repair on the Jeep while the weather was favorable. I have the pump cover/filter adapter & filter bolted back on the engine but not torqued down, need to get batteries for my digital torque wrench... dang thing seems to drain them dead every 6 months.

As far as checking the end clearance on the oil pump gears- is the straightedge and feeler gauge method acceptable or should I get ahold of some Plastigauge and use that to check clearance with the pump cover in place and torqued to spec?

 

Okay now that I'm taking a closer look at the oil pump gears and cavity I'm seeing something concerning- what's up with these score marks? Does it look like something hard (i.e. metal) went through the oil pump at one time? I didn't notice how gouged up looking the tops of the gear teeth were until I cleaned them up a bit, same with the oil pump cavity, now that I'm seeing it in daylight instead of with a dim flashlight it looks like what I thought was normal looking machined aluminum might actually be all scored up?



I did notice the wear on the pump cover and figured I'd just ask if I should get a thrust plate. Now I'm thinking I should almost definitely get a thrust plate and oil pump rebuild kit. I suppose I'll go ahead and see what kind of clearances and oil pressure I can achieve with this timing cover, but realistically, should I be looking at a new timing cover as well?

Is Napa is a trustworthy source for a quality stock replacement oil pump rebuild kit and thrust plate? Considering I might be placing an order with TA Performance for a gasket shim kit and/or adjustable regulator (among other things...), are TA's stock replacement pump kits and thrust plates any better than what I can grab at Napa today?

 

Yeah. big time shrapnel.
That will cost you pressure, but only measuring under various loads and temps will tell you how bad it will be affected.

The end plate clearance is more concern, but you can deal with that.

Flat strait bar and feeler gauges for the end gap check.

Email TA and send pics and your findings, questions.

taperf@aol.com

 

What really worries me is that the steel gears are even nicked up... I'd assume those are a fairly hard steel. I was thinking the wear on the pump cover was just normal wear from mileage, but maybe some debris even got between the gears and the cover?

Considering the engine seems to run well, is spotless under the valve covers, and has at least some oil pressure, I guess I'll cross my fingers and pray that at one point in this thing's life something metal went through the engine and it was rebuilt without the oil pump & related parts being replaced. As I'd mentioned there was a metallic goo (metal powder & oil mixed) caught inside the oil pressure line T fitting, but it was non magnetic, so it would seem that it came from the timing cover & pump cover.

I guess the true test of whether or not the engine is healthy especially with regard to bearings is what kind of psi it makes after the obvious issues are corrected... testing it under load may be tricky until the truck is roadworthy otherwise, but good thing I'm working on that simultaneously...

 

Booster plate and check clearance. New gears.

 

Yep, I figure I'll do that and go from there. Looks like Napa doesn't have a single Buick oil pump kit anywhere on the West coast and doesn't have the thrust plate anywhere. My local store is the main warehouse for Portland, Oregon and surrounding areas. Probably a safe bet they've discontinued these parts and are just selling off remaining stock. Shoot, I was hoping to tinker with this today. Time to give TA a call...

 

Search ebay for buick 350 oil pump and you may have some luck, but you'll still have to wait on delivery. There are standard kits, a high volume kit and a thrust plate up there now.

This one looks like the HV kit which also includes the thrust plate...all-in-one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/164696896952

Devon