1998 Explorer 5.0 “Restoration2021” project

[SuperGordo]

The pressure might come up a bit with new bearings?

Well I installed a new pump as well. But when you get excessive clearance between bearings and the crank any engine will lose oil pressure. So I expect better pressure readings when I'm done. Time will tell.

 

[Lee's Automotive]

Well I replaced the pump when I started this project. But you know how new parts go. So It could have been the cause. I took an oil pressure reading with my external guage. Pressure was between 20-25 cold. And wouldn't go higher when I revved up the engine. Not good.
A few weeks ago the oil pressure guage on the dash started moving up and down really fast. So fast you couldn't read it. Then I shut the engine down and the pointer went counter clockwise and stuck itself on the small pin the needle parks onto when the car is off. Except it is on the opposite side of where it would normally rest. The ticking noises started about a week after that. So all in all I think something had to have happened to the pump. Still hard to say.

My guess is the pump is garbage

 

[Lee's Automotive]

The pressure might come up a bit with new bearings?

Maybe but i would replace the pump with an oem or Melling pump

 

[Lee's Automotive]

Well I installed a new pump as well. But when you get excessive clearance between bearings and the crank any engine will lose oil pressure. So I expect better pressure readings when I'm done. Time will tell.

Hopefully and if not you could try a thicker oil or lucas oil stabilizer

 

[SuperGordo]

Maybe but i would replace the pump with an oem or Melling pump

Believe it or not it was a made in the USA Melling pump. And the new pump is also a Melling. My guess is that the relief spring failed in some manner. I've taken many pictures. I'll post up things when I'm all done.

 

[Lee's Automotive]

Believe it or not it was a made in the USA Melling pump. And the new pump is also a Melling. My guess is that the relief spring failed in some manner. I've taken many pictures. I'll post up things when I'm all done.

Wow that's strange in my experience melling and Borg Warner are top of the line

 

[SuperGordo]

Yeah, it is hard to say what has really gone on. Guess we will know something when I start it back up. Could be great, or have a crapload of problems. Then we will know.

 

[Lee's Automotive]

Yeah, it is hard to say what has really gone on. Guess we will know something when I start it back up. Could be great, or have a crapload of problems. Then we will know.

Fingers crossed it all goes well.

 

[Turdle]

You might check the cam sensor, as it drives the oil pump. The gear pin may have sheared allowing slipping.

 

[SuperGordo]

That is a good point. I replaced that thing too just few months ago. But as we all know new parts fail. Definitely worth inspecting.

 

[CDW6212R]

That is a good point. I replaced that thing too just few months ago. But as we all know new parts fail. Definitely worth inspecting.

Take the oil pump apart, I'm sure you know what the main parts are like. Those are really simple, and super reliable. Melling is great, but it could be any unexpected debris that got through the pickup screen and ruined the gears, and the oil pressure. I'd hope to actually find some evidence in the pump, that would tell a lot.

If the oil pump drive shaft is not an ARP, buy one for it, the stock shafts are very small and weak.

 

[SuperGordo]

I went ahead and used a Melling pump shaft. It's basically stock. I didn't think to get an ARP one. I got the pan back on yesterday. At this point if the bearing replacement fails the pump shaft won't be the weak link.

 

[SuperGordo]

Didn't cross the finish line today. Spent much of the day wrestling with the rack and pinion. When I replaced it in 2021, I had the entire upper intake off, the HVAC box was out of the engine bay at the time so I was able to jack the engine sky high. Not the same when most everything is still in place. So it was a bunch of fun today. I plumbed in a line for an external oil pressure guage. So I'll have to mount the oil guage tomorrow. I'm going to install the external temp guage too. I haven't prepped anything for that yet. I'm thinking that I'll just use a T fitting where one of the temp sensors goes. The rack didn't come with the correct teflon O rings. So I have to grab some from Ford tomorrow. So I still have my work cut out for me. I'm just waiting to hear it run, read oil pressure and hope for the best.

 

[SuperGordo]

Who has installed external temp guages? What are your best tips and tricks?

 

[allmyEXes]

@SuperGordo I would assume that you have to put a pipe thread brass "T" and nipple in your intake manifold where one of the two electric/onic sensors are...

 

[410Fortune]

You can easily tap the factory thermostat housing for a sensor in fact there is a blank spot where a hole can be drilled

The oil pressure port use the doubler extension dealio I posted

 

[SuperGordo]

You can easily tap the factory thermostat housing for a sensor in fact there is a blank spot where a hole can be drilled

The oil pressure port use the doubler extension dealio I posted

Oil pressure is all set to go. I like the thermostat housing idea, thanks for the tip!

 

[SuperGordo]

So I just realized that I replaced the thermostat housing with a new one in the beginning. It already has a plug I can remove for the temp sensor. A simple win!

 

[SuperGordo]

Got everything back together today. Things looked good at first. Then the oil pressure headed down. Still runs good. But the oil pressure facts tell a bad story. I installed external temp and oil pressure gauges. Engine temp is good. Oil pressure isn't. So I will plan on grabbing a used engine to warm over.

 

[EB4X]

Bummer brother.... you're a warrior though, press on ..
Yanked engine, target practice ! >>