QuestionQUESTION: I have a 1968 Mustang 302 V8 that I'm restoring but the rod from the distributor to the oil pump keeps breaking and the oil pump keeps freezeing. I have replaced two so far. What's the problem? Should I put a new engine in?
ANSWER: First, you must find out why the oil pump is locking up. It sounds like the cart before the horse. I'm thinking the pump breaks the rod, not the other way around.
When it freezes, Is there evidence of metal parts in the pump?
Were the new pumps primed?
Is there continual oil flow through the engine?
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QUESTION: They are new pumps and work for 2-3 weeks with good oil pressure and then it brakes the rods. Could it be in the distributor?
AnswerNo it would not be possible to be the distributor. It is simply the drive motor for the pump. As long as the pump is turning, the distributor does its thing. The fact the rod is breaking proves the distributor is doing its job.
I seem to remember a situation where we had too long of a drive rod and it would freeze the pumps like you are talking about. Measure carefully the space for the rod (e.i. measure with a thin rod the distance seated into the pump to the top of intake manifold, then measure distributor to flush plate minus the depth of the rod receiver). This must be longer than the rod by a millimeter or two.
Sometimes people change the distributor without taking this into consideration.
