Just rebuilt a 1988 3.0 with a kit from engine bldr. I have no oil pressure. New oil pump. Someone said I need to prime the pump. Thanks

 

If you've already got the engine back together and running isnt it beyond the point of being able to stop and prime the pump?

 

It's not running. I was just turning it over without plugs to check oil pressure before I started it up.

 

priming the pump would be doing that exactly. Just turn it over w/out any spark a few times and that should pull oil into the pump and the air out of the sealed oil system so the engine is not running dry for the first 3-5 seconds.

 

I have seen aftermarket oil pumps be bad right off the shelf. Sometimes the pressure relief valve sticks.

Are you relying on the gauge to tell you if it has pressure? If so, I'd recommend putting an actual oil pressure gauge ($10 at Harbor Freight). Did you check to see if there is oil getting up to the heads? (pull a valve cover to check)

If all else fails, make sure whoever built it actually installed the pick up tube. Ahem, I've "seen" it happen many years ago "a friend" forgot to install it.

Keep us posted

 

you could pull the plugs and install a clean dry oil filter. crank the engine over for about 5-10 seconds and then pull the oil filter. if it's got oil in it the pump is circulating something, and you should install a pressure gauge and see if it's actually making pressure. just cranking, you should get a few psi at least. if in doubt, you could install the plugs and start the engine, but do not run it more than a few seconds if the pressure gauge does not respond.
then you're going to be troubleshooting the pump. as mentioned, it could be a pressure relief valve.

 

And, even make sure the sending unit is hooked up.

 

Thanks for all the info. I will be back at it this weekend.

 

Ok guys I did not get to work on it this weekend do to this tropical system we can't seem to get rid of. So yesterday I decided to look at my old oil pump and pulled the plug to see if the check valve was open and it was. So I pulled the plug on the new one and the check vavle is also open but no sign of oil I know the oil pickup tube is in place because I have pics during build.I assume the check vavle should be open. So I guess the pump is just bad. I sure hate to have to do it but I guess the motor will be coming back out. Any other suggestions.

 

Okay need a little info. Got the oil pump off no sign of oil ever going through it. Have another new pump before installing is there anything special I need to do. Thanks.