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Nov 28, 2004 | 05:44 PM

71 Sport Custom

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Need Oil Pump Advice

Ok To cover the obvious, I've learned that you get what you pay for!!!, and yes I'm a "bottom feeder". I've lost a roller 302 that I put in my 87 F150 due to a total oil pump failure. It was a used motor out of my wrecked Tbird. When I installed it it was resealed and a new pump installed. The motor failed and I assumed it was just old age and mileage. When I tore it down it was still clean inside and the oil pump had seized and the drive twisted. The screen was intact and clean. I opened the pump and it had just seized. There was nothing in it. This pump was the cheap one from the auto parts store but was still a name brand pump. This had about 50K on it. Is this the average life of an aftermarket pump or was I just "lucky". Has anyone else had these results? Are there any more expensive pumps that definitaly will not fail? Could use some help as She's getting repowered and don't want to lose another motor over pump problems. Thanks

Nov 28, 2004 | 11:42 PM

mako5972

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From: Ocala, Florida

Gee, I think you just got lucky and got the booby prize. Your luck sounds like mine. However, I have seen those pumps from the auto parts store last a long time. The last one I changed was a while ago. I changed it on my mother's Crown Victoria. After it ran about 40K after the change we sold the car. The engine was fine. No oil pump problems. While I'm on the subject, come to think of it, since I was doing the timing chain, I figured what the hey and changed the oil pump.

Nov 29, 2004 | 06:03 AM

stevef100s

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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,

I've never had one fail, but I always use a hardened, aftermarket pump drive shaft. Cheap insurance. I use Melling pumps.

Dec 1, 2004 | 04:47 PM

71 Sport Custom

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This is a first for me. I definitely learned the advantage to an idiot light. I keep an eye on my gauges but with a stuck pump I din't rewalize I had a problem until it was too late.

Dec 2, 2004 | 09:09 AM

mark a.

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Are you sure the oil drains in the heads are, were clean ?

Dec 2, 2004 | 05:01 PM

71 Sport Custom

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Sure were, returns in the intake valley also.

Dec 7, 2004 | 08:31 PM

71 Sport Custom

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I've got her running again. Ironically with the 5.0 out of the parts truck I was towing home when my oil pump died and caused all this.I cleaned it up did bearings, timing set, seals, and even an oil pump. Hopefully I'll have better luck this time around.