One of the issues to resolve on Ryan's Dart is erratic oil pressure. I'm pretty sure the relief valve is sticking. This is an almost new Dutra reworked pump that held 50# running and about 40# idling when we last ran the car. We installed a new Head and camshaft and reused the existing oil pump. Now it runs about 45# but ramdomly shoots up to 60# for just a second or 2 and then it will drop down to 30# idling and then climb back up to 40# while still idling. All kind of randomly.

My question is how to get the valve out? Cap and spring are off but the valve is not budging. (stuck obviously) camnI turn the engine over just a bit to push it out or is there a better way. It is pretty tough to get at it up in the car. Thanks for your advice. Waiting by the computer.

Rick -

Ok I guess I will go out to the garage and see what happens.

Rick

maybe can pull out valve with a magnet on a screwdriver

Hydraulic lifter removal tool...?

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Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Where the piston doesn't easily slide out indicates that is most likely where your problem lies. Gunk or foreign mater could be holding it in place. Don't use screw drivers or any other device that can scratch internal surfaces, or you will wreck it.

Spray a wee bit of solvent, carb. cleaner, or brake cleaner in the opening and clean out any crusted gunk build up. This may enable you to remove the piston. The last resort would be to remove, and disassemble the pump.

Once the piston is removed, clean the piston with solvent, and remove any burs with crocus cloth nothing else, be very careful not to round any edges at the ends. Check the housing for additional crud, and give it a good cleaning.

When I took my pressure relief valve apart the cylinder came out with little effort.

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

Ok, I bumped the engine over and it came right out. I did not find any burrs or foreign material in it. I ran a piece of crocus cloth around it just for good measure. Tried to flush out the pump housing and reassembled. It kept sliding out when I went to put it back in so that was good.

I reassembled and started the engine and it does seem to hold a steadier pressure now. I just don't know why the pressure is higher than when it was last run. We changed the Camshaft and installed a new Head, but reused the same oil pump and rest of the bottom end. At idle it has about 48-50# and as soon as you give it some gas it goes up to 60-62#. It is just about 10# higher than it was before.

Any ideas why? Is that to much pressure, and do they make a lighter spring? to back it down a notch.

Thanks, Rick

Maybe a little chunk of crud was lodged in it from all the engine work. Probably you will never know.

The good news is it was a cheep fix!

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

My guess is the new camshaft is tighter and pressure is higher.

I sure sounds like a piece of crud got stuck in there and that you were successful in getting it cleared-out.

Run the combo for a few hundred miles and see where the oil pressure settles... it is fine in the 55 to 65 psi range off idle.
DD

what weight oil are you running?curious Mark

It is currently 10-30. We will probably run it just a few few miles and change it. So we can go to something else if you think we should.

Thanks, Rick