Oldsmobile oil pump conversion kit update

Posted by Jack Vines On 2009/11/1 21:15:57

Greetings Packard V8rs,

Thought I would give an update on the kit production status.

First, we owe Eric credit for researching and proving the idea, Craig credit for putting it into production and several others for help with testing and feedback.

Having said this, the adapter Craig was having made was reverse-engineered and produced one-at-a-time on a manual mill. It worked, but was expensive to make and accuracy was variable.

When Craig turned over production to me, he mentioned some users had minor fitment issues. Since, as Craig will attest, there isn't a lot of profit in making and selling the kits; there isn't enough money to suffer any hassles. I don't want any problems, complaints or returns. The goal is a perfect fit.

With this in mind, I brought to the machine shop a Packard engine block with rear main cap, an Olds oil pump, a Packard oil pump and one of Craig's last production adapters. Invaluable is a copy of an engineering drawing of the Oldsmobile oil pump, provided by Reyman Branting, one of our east coast members.

This drawing established the angle of the Olds oil pump base to be 4 degrees, 11 minutes. Inspection of the base of the adapter produced on the manual mill showed it to be 4 degrees even. This slight difference would change the angle of the drive shaft. Again, this is not an indication of fault. It is just taking precision of the part and fitment accuracy to the next level.

Further inspection indicated the Olds oil pump input was not precisely centered over the hole in the Packard main cap and thus the drive shaft was at a slight angle. Again, for manual work it was acceptable, but we're going to be making a bunch of these on a CNC mill and once we get one perfect, they'll all be perfect.

As of today, the steel blanks for the adapters are roughed out. The CNC program is written, but will be modified as we solve these minor fitment issues. We'll do one test unit, check the fit next weekend and hope to have finished kits on the shelf by the end of November.

Question for the members - would you prefer the kit to be offered complete, with a choice or regular or high volume pump?

thnx, jack vines