did a head job and started motor fine , only dist was hitting firewall and couldn't rotate clockwise anymore because vacum can contact at firewall , so I pulled distributer to rotate oil pump shaft and rod came up with distributer!! I like the rod with the steel sleeve all one piece -and this motor has the plastic sleeve too join the oil pump rod to the oil pump and for some reason the rod didn't stay with the pump? can't see down the back of block but would guess the plastic sleeve fell of oil pump , WHAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM ? I am guessing a solution will be to drop oil pan ( 1979 trk) , and drop pump and replace oil pump rod with the steel sleeve oil rod,ALL suggestions are appreciated- mark

Yup- that happened to me on my 396 about 6months ago.The original coupler is plastic and over time the engine heat bakes it so that it becomes brittle and cracks.......

3 Days after installing my posi unit and 3.73gears I was out on the highway w/my buddy giving him a ride.Took her up to about 120mph and shut her down.......no oil pressure :mad:

The only way to get the oil pan off on a 68 Chevelle is to pull the motor.OH well, at least it happened 3 blocks from the house.

Get the aftermarket shaft w/the steel coupler and be done with it!

speedster - did you tack weld the pick-up tube and screen ? I had a buddy driving 3 states in a blown 454 - 1955 nomad when mid- trip the pick-up fell off ( ITS PRESSED IN) and he had a no oil pressure problem, glad to hear you saved that bbc - thanks mark tongue.gif