low oil pressure????

[kedso]

I have a 71 with a 318 only 41k miles on it.  I took it out for a ride today and the oil pressure light came on at idle.  I was near home so I drove it on in.  Oil level is good, oil looks clean the lifters start to tick at idle so the pressure is low.  Can I get the pan off without pulling the motor?  I hope the problem is with the pump.  Anyone have any thoughts?  I'm going to pull the filter and cut it open to see whats in it.

[Chryco Psycho]

you need to get one end of the centerlink disconnected so you can swing it out of the way but yes the pan can be removed , problem could with the pump or brgs which you can also check while you are in there as long as you retorque the rods or main caps

[flyinlow]

I would put a known good mechanical guage on it with good oil in it and see what you have before I did anything else.

[Brock Lee]

It is kind of common. What are you using for oil? I have had to switch to a high volume pump and heavy weight oil to maintain good pressure. My car would drop to almost zero at a stoplight and want to die. Now it is pretty even.

[kedso]

OK here's what I found in the engine.  The mains and rod bearing look good for 40K miles they were all wet with oil.  The lifters were ticking when I moved the car into the garage.  I could see a section of the timing chain and it was bone dry.  Appears I am losing oil along the lifter gallery somewhere.  I think a plug popped out of a passage somewhere up top and I am losing pressure there to the front lifters and the timing chain.

[kedso]

Ok here is the payoff.  When I pulled off the intake manifold #5 intakes lifter was laying in the valley push rod is a pretzel and the valve is stuck.  The engine never idled right I blamed the carb.   The car had been in storage for sixteen years and I guess the valve rusted in place.   I don't believe how well the car ran on seven cylinders.  Thanks for the help.

[flyinlow]