1978 NYB New Engine.....

Jeezzzz, had a F'd up afternoon!

I started up the blue beast and had it running for ONE minute. Those of you that are familiar with Formals know that the oil pressure idiot light is kind of in hard spot to see on the dash. So I look around the steering wheel and seen that stupid *** idiot light lit up red. I almost had a heart attack and I shut it down as fast as I could. F! There goes $16k in 60 seconds. So.... I'm wondering how long the engine was running with no oil pressure. I just sat there for a minute and tried to calm down. I didn't hear any valve chatter and I couldn't smell any oil burning or any unusual smells. I get out of the car and look under it...no oil slick so that's good. Checked the dipstick and she's full. I checked and i see that I'm getting oil to the top of the valve train. I started the engine again and damn idiot light was flickering on and off and I shut it down again. I started to check the sending unit and discovered that the oil pressure sending unit wire either got pulled off or was removed to work on something else and forgot to hook it up. The connector was grounding out and turning the idiot light on. Thank God it was something simple and NOT a real oil pressure issue. I was going to blow off installing additional gauges but I'm going to have to seriously rethink that. I would feel a lot better with an oil pressure, water temp, and voltage gauges.

What a day!!!
 
I know Formals are considered luxury cars and somehow Ma Mopar decided an oil pressure idiot light is good enough. Formals have a real temp gauge....sort of.

My 18 RAM has all gauges but no numbers.....just symbols. I have to study each gauge just to determine which one it is and what is it reporting.

Just ranting.....
 
I know Formals are considered luxury cars and somehow Ma Mopar decided an oil pressure idiot light is good enough. Formals have a real temp gauge....sort of.

My 18 RAM has all gauges but no numbers.....just symbols. I have to study each gauge just to determine which one it is and what is it reporting.

Just ranting.....
Rant away... I'd have puckered the seat too, when I noticed the light... but, in truth, you're not in big trouble until you hear her start to clatter.

As a tech, I did prefer cars that had no numbers on the gauges... every July we'd get to ask customers which letter of the word NORMAL the gauge pointed to. :realcrazy:
 
Big block Mopars are bullet proof....

They WILL run on as little as 1.5 qts of oil and NOT blow up or hurt anything.

Try that with a Chebbie!
 
Big block Mopars are bullet proof....

They WILL run on as little as 1.5 qts of oil and NOT blow up or hurt anything.

Try that with a Chebbie!
Ummm... no thanks, but Management did get a Saturn down to about half a quart before I heard the engine... stupid car still went another several years, both in our possession and in the hands of the kid I passed it on to.

Best part, a few months later, she bought me Tim Allen's "Home Improvement" on DVD... she left the room during the episode when Tim's wife ran the car out of oil and seized the engine... "I didn't know that was in there, or I wouldn't have bought it" :lol:
 
The heart attack response is common...lol. I tend to rely on noise. If it's actually bad, the engine will tell you (literally). Otherwise look at the gage or that stupid connector that seems to get loose easily...lol
 
I think of all kinds of crazy stuff when that happens.

Since someone else built this engine....trying to remember IF I put a wrench on the oil pan drain plug to make sure it was tight. DID I check to make sure the oil filter is tight. DID I do a thorough inspection to make sure NOTHING is leaking.
 
I hate when that happens at 70 mph
You're too young to remember this dropping down in your face at 70 mph.

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I was able to get a few things done today. I was able to install the rear section of the new hood insulation pad. It was about time to put it on. I've had it for about 7 years. Ran out of plastic clips and have to order another set before I can install the front section.
 
I was able to fab one of the A/C lines with the EZ clip system for the Sanden compressor. I still need to order one more piece so I can fab the other line. I might have to do some mods to the manifold that bolts to the H-block.
 
I hooked up the vacuum canister and the dang brake pedal is hard as a rock. I ordered another Dorman 80189 check valve so I can eliminate all that extra vacuum lines for the rear suspension vacuum pump.
 
I hate when that happens at 70 mph. The road noise and shock of the light will make the ticker skip a beat or two.
This reminds me when I had my new Sprinter work van. I have about 6,0000 miles on it and hadn't check the oil level lately. I am driving down the freeway and my oil light come on. I about crapped, I pulled over and shut it off. My heart was pounding so hard, first new work van I ever bought. I check the oil level and it appears to be at the add a quart level.

I discovered 3 things that day, my van had a 10 quart capacity, the "oil can" light comes on when I am down a quart, and a totally different idiot light for oil pressure.

Bob, so glad you didn't put yourself in cardiac arrest for nothing. :)
 
The Blue Beast is a little cold hearted when the ambient temp drops below 60. Even with the compression and the aggressive cam she starts right up. Takes a few minutes to warm up but she runs fine after she's warmed up a bit.
 
This reminds me when I had my new Sprinter work van. I have about 6,0000 miles on it and hadn't check the oil level lately. I am driving down the freeway and my oil light come on. I about crapped, I pulled over and shut it off. My heart was pounding so hard, first new work van I ever bought. I check the oil level and it appears to be at the add a quart level.

I discovered 3 things that day, my van had a 10 quart capacity, the "oil can" light comes on when I am down a quart, and a totally different idiot light for oil pressure.

Bob, so glad you didn't put yourself in cardiac arrest for nothing. :)

I probably have between 1-2 hours of operation on the new engine. I ALWAYS check the engine oil dipstick before starting it. She's still at the full mark and the oil is still clean. I'll change oil and filter at 200 miles and then every 3000 miles.
 
It runs fine. The carb and timing is dialed in. Just have to warm her up a bit when it's below 60.

But I'm always open to suggestions when driveability and tuning come in to play.
I would have stated the obvious but knowing you, you already have the choke sorted out.
 
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