Just for what it's worth, something that often gets overlooked is the oil
pump bottom cover plate. It gets scored and causes low oil pressure.
A few years ago while returning from the Carlisle swap meet after driving
for about 4 hours I stopped to pay the toll at the end of the PA turnpike. 0
oil pressure at idle with 20W-50 oil. At 3000 rpm about 30 pounds. I was
concerned.
This engine was rebuilt in 1980 and the crank was not turned down as the
crank measured OK for standard bearings.
The following weekend was Memorial Day weekend so I had some time and
decided to get into the bottom end. The only thing that I did was to replace
the connecting rod bearings and rebuild the oil pump taking particular care
to work all of the grooves and scoring out of the bottom plate. I used rough
and then fine emery with a thin oil and used a piece of glass to maintain
everything flat and just worked the plate back and forth till the plate was
smooth and flat. Checked the clearance and it was right on the bottom end
of the tolerance.
That was at least 3 years ago. I now have 40 psi at idle and a steady 55 to
60 at speed using 20W-50 oil. The crank has never been cut and has well over
90,000 miles on it.
I recommend working all of the marks out of the bottom cover plate now to
anyone who's trying to improve oil pressure.
My 2 cents worth.
JVV
----- Original Message -----
From: <Popnglo@aol.com>
To: <pcdelux@worldnet.att.net>; <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 7:06 PM
Subject: Re: after changing bearings and such (TR3A)
> In a message dated 08/23/2004 10:45:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> pcdelux@worldnet.att.net writes:
>
> > Hello Ed,
> >
> > Worn rocker shaft or rocker bushings can
> > cause oil pressure drop when hot. Lots of
> > volume can leak out up there.
> >
> > Bill DeWar
> >
>
> The rocker shaft was rebuilt last winter by Rocker Arm Specialists,
> Anderson, CA .
>
> Thanks for the reply,
>
> Ed (58 TR3A)
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