Oil pump & oil pan

[solidaxel]

Will the oil pan clear the front crossmember without moving the engine?
I may have to change my oil pump and I want to know if I can do this without lifting the engine up to clear everything?
The pressure has dropped to 25# when cold with 10-30 oil and it use to read 35 to 45 in the cold mornings.
Yes it has a lot of miles but I am the only owner since new and it is serviced regularly, 78 350/350.
Do the sending units go bad?
when the engine is up to operating temp. the pressure is even lower 25# at speed in third gear.

[78 Chevyrado]

With a 350 in a 2wd 73-87, you can take the pan off without moving the engine. But you will have to rotate the crankshaft to a certain point so the pan clears the crank throws. I did it in my 77, 78 and 87. I think only a 400 can't be done like that.

[James McClure]

Solid: Sending units do fail!! Check pressure with a mechanical guage before condeming the pump. Mine is over 465,000 miles and still holds 50 psi at 60 mph & idles warm at about 30. I run Mobile1 20-50 all year round. jim

[dammitmitchell]

yeah i jsut replaced today a sending unit
they do go bad
and if it's an origional 78 unit.. it' probably time to get some love and spend 20 bucks

[solidaxel]

How many different sending units are there?
Does any one have tha right part number?
If yours has 450+ I feel like mine is just half way there with 200K.
The only thing I have changed is the water pump(2) and 2 feel pumps and 2 transmissions.
Valve seals are toast and oil consumption is going up!
I think it is good for another 25 years!!

[James McClure]

I have changed 2 water pumps 1 fuel pump. Resealed the valves once, overhauled the Q-jet 4 times and replaced the clutch when I overhauled the body. I can't remember the last time it got a tune up and ssomewhere near 1500 oil changes, LOL, jim

[dammitmitchell]

theres "one style" for the oil pressure sending unit it just a lil different from different manufactures...
and they are a noticeably different for aftermarket gauges
now if you go down to a napa or carquest (where people have a higher chance of knowing what motor actually is!)
instead of an autozone and tell them you have a gen I 350 and you need a oil pressure sendign unit they'll usually just walk back and be like "hey i knew i had a few back there" and blow dust off the box
if you go to auto zone.. watch the over peirced/dyed hair teenage boy who hates his father ask you a bunch of questions about your truck "ya sure it's not a honda mannn?" and then get you the wrong part.. orrr.. u can follow this linky....

http://www.autozone.com/R,431903/veh...ductDetail.htm

[78 Chevyrado]

I think the dummy light- senders are a lot bigger than the guage-sender IIRC.

[dammitmitchell]

well that's pretty much the same one i put in..
my chev dosent have a puter/caution lighting or original motor..
i just pulled the bulbs and pay attention to my gauges..
stock gauges/ stock parts/ works good fer me =-)
but the link igave was the same one i put in today.. it squeesed in there behind a high rise but it works =-)