RE: [Classic Mustang] Low Oil Pressure Revisited

Cleveland motors have problems with inadequate oil flow to the main bearings.  Common fixes are high volume pump and flow restrictors to the lifters/pushrods.  Oil pressure can be within range, but the oil still not going where it should.  Those that race Cleveland engines smooth and massage the oil passages and use pressure relief springs to boost pressure to 100psi, or thereabouts.

 

That is one of the reasons the Clevor engine was developed, putting those wonderful Cleveland heads on a Windsor block.  Ford Motorsports, when it was called that, used to have instructions on how to put those heads on a Windsor block in the back of their catalog. Maybe they still do.  Not too difficult at all.  You do need a special intake, however.

 

Those 4bbl heads have enormous ports and could make some amazing power at high rpms.  But it was at the expense of low end torque.  Which is also why they respond to 4:11 gears so well. ;-)

 

I run Mobil 1 exclusively in my Cobra. Change oil at 6k, filter every 3k.   I use Castrol dinosaur oil.   

 

I put 300,000 miles on my 87 GT, and never had the motor apart more than the valve covers, intake, and timing cover off to fix leaking seals/gaskets.  I did swap it from speed density to mass airflow.  (That was simple. Took about an hour.)   Always got 25 mpg.  I put 4 snows on it and ran it all winter, started instantly even at -20.  Sold it to buy the Cobra.  I miss her.  Never should have sold it.  She was a rock.   I digress.....*sniff*

 

 

You all have a great weekend, I'm headed to Oxford Plains Speedway Saturday night to race our vintage stock car in an exhibition Feature during normal division series racing (a *very* cheap way to run around in circles with the stands full of people!)  Every one likes to see the old cars run around the track again.... 

 

 From: classicmustang@yahoogroups.com [mailto:classicmustang@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of MDG
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 9:34 PM
To: classicmustang@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Classic Mustang] Low Oil Pressure Revisited

Have heard rumors about Cleveland oiling problems but have not seen this in

my car ('71 351C 4V).  The temp gauge and oil gauge are always well within

limits under any driving conditions.  And if you own a Cleveland you know what

I mean by "driving conditions" :)

The last time I changed the oil was two months ago and the oil is still the color

of honey and only 1/8 inch below the full mark on the dipstick.

I do use a I&NO oil filter.  Pricey, but oil is one of the most important things you

can do for your car.

 

mike

 

With the Cleveland motor having a reputation of having oiling issues,
that might explain the higher psi at road speed. Do you use synthetic
oil?

The old '74 302 I am replacing with a 289, the oil pressure at idle was
a tick over 20, 60psi at 2,000 down the road. I'd even venture that
your electric sender is okay. I have both an Autometer gauge and the
factory 'gauge' in my '69. With a new sender, my factory gauge reads
like yours.

Ford is not known for accurate gauges, and they specifically do not put
numerals on them to prevent owners from becoming alarmed and complaining
to the dealer. My 87 GT and 95 Cobra do not have numerals and seem to
be designed such that the temp gauge reads to the low end of normal for
water temp (at operating temperature) and to the high end of normal for
the oil pressure. By the time they are out of the normal range, AAA is
on the way....

Sounds like your done. Still gonna swap the cam?

Pete

-----Original Message-----
From: classicmustang@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:classicmustang@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan O'Reilly
Sent: Thursday, June 04, 2009 8:31 PM
To: classicmustang@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Classic Mustang] Low Oil Pressure Revisited

My Ford shop manual, for that specific engine, calls out 50-70 PSI at
2000 RPM. No mods, no nothing, just a stock engine (and that's what the
specs are for). This is a 351 Cleveland, by the way, not a Windsor.

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