Blueprint Chevy 350 motor

[greengilbert]

Is anybody on here running a Blueprint Chevy 350 motor? I bought one for my '35 Ford 7 years ago from Roadcraft and it has been running just fine until last Sunday when the oil pressure suddenly dropped to zero. There were no strange noises and no loss of oil so it looks like the oil pump packed up.
I've removed the engine but need to get it checked internally for any damage. Does anybody know a Blueprint service agent or a workshop with experience of these engines who can check it out.

I have emailed Blueprint in the US and am waiting a reply and unfortunately Roadcraft are closed until 11th May. Thanks.

[malstbird]

A quick at home check would be to pull the distributor and use the correct tool to spin up the pump in a drill. See if you get any oil pressure that way first.

Mal

[Happydaze]

I can't imagine there's anything particularly special / unique / different to a Blueprint engine to any regular SBC thus requiring specialist knowledge.

I do remember hearing a sad tale of a guy getting thoroughly reamed by a garage over the "highly specialised, specially tuned" engine this particular car had. The car was I think an original AC Cobra. Those US truck engines are up there with Ferraris etc for their idiocincracies!

Chris

[martin]

Try Thunder Road in Woking, they know their engines as they work on race prep AC Cobras.

www.thunderroadspeedshop.co.uk

[Blackpopracing]

A bluepring SBC is just a SBC - nothing special except they may be tuned more.

I'd be very suprised if the oil pump has packed up - SBC oiling is extremely reliable.

I'd be looking at the oil sender first and then pull the dizzy to make sure the shaft is still driving the pump.

[tylf33]

Strange, I had that years ago on a '76 SBC, but it was not the gauge, as I could hear the tappets clacking. Shut down quick. Could find nothing wrong on stripdown, & a crate motor proved the gauge/electrics were fine. Changed the pump in the old engine, & it's fine. The only thing I could think of was that the gear on the oil pump shaft was slipping when hot .

[greengilbert]

Thanks for the replies guys. Coincidentally I am currently in touch with the guys at Thunder Road about another car and they were happy to come over and check it out. As some of you suggested they confirmed the oil pump is now showing pressure and working fine and the engine then started ok albeit making a strange noise. Next stage is to remove the inlet manifold and check the valve gear and try and get a fix on why the pump stopped in the first place.

[Blackpopracing]

Drive gear on dizzy to cam might be badly worn? as that drives the oil pump.

[Happydaze]

And not all cam gears play nicely with all cams, but there is one type that works with all. Might be bronze, but might not. The others are iron and is it melonic or something like that? There might be others. Choose wisely.

Chris