The Ford Barn

Adam/Mill Valley CA · 09-02-2022, 03:09 PM

My 1936 pickup has a 221cu in poured bearing motor which has always run well (especially now with rebuilt distributor by Charlie Schwendler and rebuilt coil by Skip Haney). Mileage/rebuild status unknown, I've put about 15000+ miles on it-it clearly was somewhat tired from the get-go,there is pitting in some of the cylinder bores, uses a bit of oil, but will easily go 65-70 mph (it has a 3.78 rear end)-I usually run 55mph on the highway.There is no oil filter, I change the oil (5 qts) every 1000 miles religiously, with Valvoline 20W-50 VR-1 racing oil.

I recently fitted a mechanical oil pressure gauge (and checked the #'s with a second high quality mechanical gauge); it registers 42lbs cold, 25lbs hot at 55 mph (the spec from the '36 Ford service bulletin is 30lbs at 55 mph). However, when hot after a freeway run, at idle, it drops to 0-2 lb
When I first got the truck I dropped the oil pan and cleaned out a ton of sludge, plastigguged the mains which were .002 (wear limit per Ford of .003)
The oil pump is a replacement type, the relief spring in the front of the valley was replaced with a new #50 spring.
I don't really want to rebuild this motor if I don't have to, but I also don't want to grenade the crank journals. Opinions from experienced motor guys?

Thanks,

Adam

09-02-2022, 03:09 PM	#1
Adam/Mill Valley CA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mill Valley,CA Posts: 299	Oil pressure questions My 1936 pickup has a 221cu in poured bearing motor which has always run well (especially now with rebuilt distributor by Charlie Schwendler and rebuilt coil by Skip Haney). Mileage/rebuild status unknown, I've put about 15000+ miles on it-it clearly was somewhat tired from the get-go,there is pitting in some of the cylinder bores, uses a bit of oil, but will easily go 65-70 mph (it has a 3.78 rear end)-I usually run 55mph on the highway.There is no oil filter, I change the oil (5 qts) every 1000 miles religiously, with Valvoline 20W-50 VR-1 racing oil. I recently fitted a mechanical oil pressure gauge (and checked the #'s with a second high quality mechanical gauge); it registers 42lbs cold, 25lbs hot at 55 mph (the spec from the '36 Ford service bulletin is 30lbs at 55 mph). However, when hot after a freeway run, at idle, it drops to 0-2 lb When I first got the truck I dropped the oil pan and cleaned out a ton of sludge, plastigguged the mains which were .002 (wear limit per Ford of .003) The oil pump is a replacement type, the relief spring in the front of the valley was replaced with a new #50 spring. I don't really want to rebuild this motor if I don't have to, but I also don't want to grenade the crank journals. Opinions from experienced motor guys? Thanks, Adam __________________ 1936 pickup, stock, black 1965 Mustang coupe 289/4bbl, black/red 1971 Alfa Romeo GTV 1750 coupe, dark red/tan 1970 911E 2.2 litre dark blue/black 1968 BMW R50/2 US, black (m'cycle) 1967 Triumph TR6R , sea foam/cream (m'cycle) 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 red (m'cycle) 1974 Honda CB750 red (m'cycle) 2000 Kawasaki W650 blue/silver (m'cycle)