oil pump spring

B

benbuilder

Senior Member
I have a new to me 1931 pickup.
I dropped the pan to clean it out because it sat for a good 15 years.
I bought an new pump screen and spring.
When i replaced the screen, i did not notice a retainer clip.
I see the manual shows i should have the spring attached to the oil pump. When i look at my spring, it is firmly imbedded into the oil pan. It looks like mine works this way. Is it correct?
 

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I just reinstalled my oil pan and oil pump after a clean out, your 2nd photo I don’t understand where that spring is ? Can you back away and show another photo ?
 
I have never seen a factory original oil pump spring attached to the oil pan. The A-6618 Clip, that became B-6618, has a usage of 1928 thru 1932 according to the December 20, 1932 Parts Price List.
 
I have a couple of oil pans with the spring in place - a couple others using the keeper between bolts on the oil pump screen.

The pan-spring appears "rolled" into the plug fitting. And no, it's not like it can be "unscrewed" - although you could try it.

Maybe better than trying to "force it" instead use a dremel or die-grinder and cut it off as flush as you can get it? Be careful lest you heat the plug fitting as it may be soldered into the pan and you might create a leak.

Not that you can't fix a leak by re-soldering - been there done that after spinning the fitting in place in overtightening.

Or - you might leave it and use it. Perhaps try to "stretch it out" to increase the spring rate? If it doesn't come loose you might be good to go. There is not really pressure forcing the pump down into the pan. All a stock pump does is "lift" oil up to the valve chamber level.

Joe K
 
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I'd leave it in place. I have a pan or two with the spring in the bottom like that, but they're both in cars so I can't take a picture.

I've never tried to remove mine, so I don't know if you actually can.
 
Here are pictures of the pump and a spring. This was a running engine until the radiator hose broke and overheated and cracked a head.
This is a new to me truck and i was advised that while repairing the head, that i should drop the pan and clean out the oil pan.
I am not familiar with Model As so i did my research on line and in the books and noticed mine is not like the Les Andrews
 

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My Burtz engine uses a screw in place of the locating pin to hold the pump against the block. This eliminates the need for the spring. If the pan is removed on a stock engine the pump pin locating hole can be tapped to accept a bolt. Removing the pump locating pin will allow attaching the pump to the block.
 
Ford likely made model A engine oil pans for a while after the change over to the model B pan. They started farming out the engine blocks after production ended, hence the diamond blocks. They manufactured the model A type 4-cylinder clear up to 1941 so they may have farmed out the oil pans for the industrial engine line and spare parts as well. Early model A engines had the clean out in the pan but the spring on the bottom of the pump was common till the end of model A car production and likely on into the model B production
 
You spoke of the "pan mounted spring." ONE of the engines of this feature is memorable to me because it came from my FIRST Model A acquisitions. This from a Vermont resident near my college who had a "pile of parts" left over from his 1930ish Roadster restoration. Which he and I were able to come to terms of purchase (for $75)

A front end, a rear end, an engine block and transmission, a short length of frame probably from a doodlebug, a steering column/wheel, a cowl - lending credence to the "doodlebug" designation.

I should have bought two, if I could.

The cowl was very definitely 1930 on vintage - quarter turn gas cap and all. And - his roadster was as I say 1930ish.

The engine number was April 1930 production. It's now in my Avatar and was the replacement for the "red" engine (probably Allstate re-man - not numbered) that came with the truck.

The April engine had the spring attached to pan convention.

Of course who is to say that the oil pan wasn't swapped out at some time in the life of either the doodlebug OR his nicely restored 1930 Roadster.

February 1930 Service Bulletins P. 423

"To eliminate any possibility of a mechanic failing to replace the spring, a change was made some time ago by attaching the spring to the end of the pump. This was done by means of a retaining clamp, as shown in Fig. 853.

However, in view of the number of cars manufactured prior to this change, mechanics must check each job on which they remove the oil pan or clean-out plate to make certain they have replaced the pump spring."
Click to expand...
So perhaps Mid 1929 for the change? It would make sense within the year after the change from a clean-out plate.

Joe K
 
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