Re: oil pressure, uneven running..

[Bob Smith <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I'd love to hear more details about how you accomplish this with the 
engine in the car.

My 76 Spider showed exactly the symptoms described in this thread.  Its 
pressure was always a bit low and then suddenly dropped about 10lbs 
lower. Is it unique to Alfas that when the pressure shows an unusually 
low reading the first thought is "gee, the gauge must be broken"?  I 
replaced the sending unit and then installed a conventional (not 
electronic) gauge...  all of which showed the same low readings... 
before I finally thought "maybe something's wrong with the engine".  In 
the meantime I've probably put enough miles on the thing with low 
pressure that I may have worn main bearings now.

I pulled the lower pan off several months ago and sure enough found the 
remains of two plugs.  I have a feeling one came out right after the 
engine was rebuilt years ago.  The second is probably the most recently 
noticed pressure drop. The car has been sitting in my garage ever since 
waiting for me to get enthused enough to pull the engine.  How did you 
go about removing the upper sump?  Did you undo the engine mounts and 
hoist it slightly?  It doesn't seem as if there'd be enough room to 
work around that support beam that goes under the engine.  Any hints 
that keep me from pulling the engine would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Bob Smith
Waco, TX  '76 Spider

On Tuesday, August 5, 2003, at 10:19  PM, Jeff Greenfield wrote:

> The offending plug (or plugs) can be replaced with the engine in the 
> car.
> You will need to remove the sump (upper section). You can then (with 
> some
> difficulty) tap a new plug into place.
>
> My recollection is that the worst one to replace with the engine in 
> the car
> is the rear most one, but it can be done as I've managed to do it.
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