'73 How to verify oil is pumping without gauge???

[togntime1]

I just got my 73 FJ40 fired for the first time after sitting outside 10+ years. The wiring harness and gauge cluster is out. I'm manually starting by using an interrupter switch between starter post and solenoid, and have it running of auxillary gas can and electric fuel pump. Oil pressure gauge isn't hooked up. Is there a simple way I can visually check to see if I have oil moving through the motor? Maybe just unscrewing the oil filter and seeing if its pumping from the pan?

 

[JAFO2014]

I would pipe in a cheap oil pressure gauge. The type you can by at Advance Auto that take a small tube. Pretty simple to pipe in a fitting where the oil pressure sending unit fits and then run to a gauge. Good piece of mind as you test things out. That is what I do when I am starting an engine that is not hooked to everything yet. I have a drawer dedicated to small brass fittings, bushings, etc just for this type of job.

 

[handcannon]

I would pipe in a cheap oil pressure gauge. The type you can by at Advance Auto that take a small tube. Pretty simple to pipe in a fitting where the oil pressure sending unit fits and then run to a gauge. Good piece of mind as you test things out. That is what I do when I am starting an engine that is not hooked to everything yet. I have a drawer dedicated to small brass fittings, bushings, etc just for this type of job.

The Japanese motors do not have the standard threaded fittings that we are used to. They are British tapered thread, which is very close to what we use here in the USA. However, for short term use you "might" be able to use a brass fitting in the stock oil pressure port in the block and get by as the brass threads might form enough to fit the threads in the block. If you have enough time to do so you can find a correctly threaded fitting on-line. I have a Nissan SD-22 diesel motor that I started while it was setting on the garage floor. Since I was concerned about having oil pressure on a motor I had no history on I found correctly threaded fittings on-line and hooked up a mechanical oil pressure gauge.

Don

 

[skidplate]

You probably know this but your dist. drives the oil pump. Make SURE the dist. is seated all the way down. The engine will run but the oil pump won't work unless it is ALL the way seated. And buy a oil gauge as mentioned above.

 

[roadstr6]

Take the valve cover off and look to see that a steady flow of oil is getting up to the rockers as the engine is running. That is the easiest way to check. The 2F engine will not spurt oil all over the place with the valve cover off. No worries there.

 

[JAFO2014]

Thanks Don. I wasn't aware of that thread difference. I think teflon tape around the NPT fitting should seal it enough for a quick check of oil pressure, if someone wants to know more than just the fact oil is pumping.
The difference between NPT, BSPP and BSPT seals | Ralston Instruments

I do see the adapters on Amazon to get from British to NTP for around $10.

 

[skully3]

A 1/4 inch BSP is 19 threads per inch and a NPT is 18...please get the right fitting. on a F155, (a stock motor for a 73) remove the valve cover you will see a copper line in the middle of the rockers, disconnect the your coil, and that copper line. crank the engine and oil should flow.

 

[jm599]

I was in similar situation w new rebuild this summer. I could not get the oil pressure gauge to work, even after trying 2 good cluster gauges and 2 senders, using ohmeters, new wires etc.
the short hose shop qauge was showing 55psi.
But instead of running the small tubing to the dash, bought a “flashing light.”
It flashes, on the dash, until pressure is up to 20psi.
So on start up, key on, it’s flashing til pressure builds, usually 5 seconds.
Sender in stock location has a wire to the light on the dash.
I’m thinking that while driving should I lose pressure, ie, something puts a hole in the oil pan, going thru that deep wet hole, the flashing will be much more obvious than a low needle.

 

[SteveH]

A flashing oil pressure indicator sounds interesting - where did you find such a thing, or did you custom engineer it?

EDIT:
Just found what might be it: Longacre Gagelites Oil Pressure 40000

 

[jm599]

That’s the one. I ordered an adapter for the threads.

 

[emac]

I had an old datsun oil pressure gauge that I wired up to the OEM sender to test engine prior to finishing the build.