i recently acquired a 71 thunderbird with a 429 in it that i'm gonna take the engine and tranny out of and put it in my 72 ford truck. it starts and runs ok but the oil pressure is very low. we replaced the guage and sender and it is still very low. i was wondering if the oil pump was the cause of the oil pressure being so low. any help would be appreciated.
thanks.
kurt

 

How many miles are on the motor? My bet is that if their are alot of miles on it, the main bearing are probably wore and allowing excessive oil loss and loss of pressure.

TBirdGuy

 

I agree, also , get a mechanical gauge and hook it up to the sending unit hole on the top of the block behind the intake manifold and check it there. A mechanical gauge is much more accurate than most electrics. Does the engine make any unusual noises?

 

Oil pressure is a function of two things in a motor, one, the condition of the pump itself and second, the clearance on all bearings. To half a** cjeck the pump, hook the mechanical gauage close to the filter. To half a** check the bearings, hook the guage at the back of the block.