Last week I finished the last phase of restoration on my 52 M38A1, the
stenciling. It was just in time for one of our local parades this weekend.
It was one year ago that I finished rebuilding the engine (rings,
bearings, reground crank, rebuilt head ect). Since that time the jeep had
only been driven about 1 mile and had about 30 minutes of running time on
the motor. I started up the jeep Saturday morning and noticed a small
amount of smoke from the exhaust. I had good oil pressure (60 lbs cold),
so I drove it downtown (approx 3 miles). Oil pressure was still good (40
lbs driving and about 25 lbs at idle). About 2 hours later parade started
and while I drove my halftrack, I had another guy drive the jeep right
behind me. During the course of the parade, the jeep kept smoking worse
and worse. About 3/4 way through the parade, the guy driving the jeep
pulls of to the side and turns it off because oil pressure was down to 5
lbs. After the parade, I checked, and found oil to be about 3 1/2 quarts
low. I added oil and started jeep back up. Oil pressure only would get to
5 lbs at high engine rpm. Idle was 0 lbs. I noticed that oil was spraying
out on drivers side front of engine. It appears that the fuel pump may be
the culprit, which would explain the bad smoking if the oil is being sucked
into the vacumn system. My question is on the subject of the oil pressure.
Why would pressure drop so severly, and never return when additional oil
was added? Any ideas??
BTW I have not had a chance to do any trouble shooting or inspection on
engine yet, and engine was not knocking, so I don't believe I spun a bearing.
Thanks in advance.
Cliff Dahl
wrcc@rapidnet.com
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