AWDPower
Well-known member
My GVR4 has been off the road for a while- about 8 years. I finaly found time to finish it, and resumed work on it a couple months ago. When I did the T-belt, I spun the oil pump a bit with a drill to circlate the oil a since it had been sitting so long. I should mention that I also replaced the oil pan and the oil was fresh. I finished the t-belt and buttoned everything up. I also had swapped on an air oil cooler and housing. A week or two later, I pulled one of the plugs on the housing to install the turbo oil feed line. There was no oil at the plug, or in the filter. So I have two problems. One, why didn't the oiling system prime? I'm not too worried about that, I can add oil to the filter housing later to prime the pump if needed. My bigger worry is that I damaged the rear balance shaft bearings when I spun it without oil reaching it. I spun the pump for about 30 seconds, probably about 1000rpm at the oil pump (2/3 that at the balance shaft I believe). I did notice when I did the t-belt that the oil pump sprocket seemed less self aligning then the other dozens of t-belts I've done, but didn't think much of it at the time. But there was no noise, and it spun smoothly and easily. Do you think that I damaged the bearings? The engine is a strong, unknown mileage, stock long block. It may have been rebuilt (had thermo warranty buttons on the block and head.) I'd really prefer to keep the balance shafts. I'm so close to putting the car back on the road, I'd rather not tear back into it if I don't have to. Is this wishfull thinking, or needless worry?
