SMILE!

You earned it; you deserve it!

No offense intended!

I can only imagine the anguish of a straight eight owner.....

Not sure what you mean by that, care to elaborate?

I have always been told that the straight eights were notorious over heaters. Is that a myth involving maintenance issues?

Just got back from the local 4th of July Parade with another 56, a crawl at 90+ degrees in and out of the sun.

No tappet noise, but both cars got very hot. My temp gauge got to about 12:30 and my foot never touched the gas, just the brakes. Car pinged for two blocks then cooled a bit and ran fine.

I can only imagine the anguish of a straight eight owner.....

Progress Report: tentative Triumph.....

I overfilled by slightly less than a quart and drove to the gas station, did a couple of errands and came home. About 15 miles, with three stops.

Previous oil pressure showed on the gauge at idle with the needle at about 11:30; now it shows at about 12:30.

thus far,,,,,no tappet noise.

I'll let you know how we do in the parade on the fourth.....

"For a more thorough diagnosis, check the hot, idling oil pressure with a good reliable mechanical gauge rather than relying on the electrical resistance gauge. And then check it again at the front of the driver-side cylinder head where the line goes to feed the oil filter. A hot, idling main pressure of 35 psi or more would be very comforting, and about 7 psi or more at the cylinder head feed to the filter."

How and where do you check the "hot, idling oil pressure"?

So much to learn!

Where to start? In no order:

I have only had this car a few months. Previous owner claimed new oil pump installed late last year....with the washer, whatever that means.

I have no intention of doing this myself. My skill level stops just this side of changing a light bulb. What I had in mind was some rough idea of what this should cost.....

I do have the shop manual, as does the mechanic. I also have the flat rate manual, which he does not seem to own.

And of course at this point, I'm wondering what passages might be clogged: that sort of thing. Like many people, my budget for this sort of thing is limited, so I feel I need to be prudent, with as few false casts as possible.

And the part number is ????????????????

More to the point, this is what, two hour job? A two day job?

What is involved? Pulling the heads? Deeper?

1. Running a quart or pint over will not cause damage?

2. Dodge truck lifters? Why? And which ones; surely they are not all identical........

56 Patrician with the stock motor, with 73,000 miles. New oil pump. Running Rotella 15-40. Oil pressure is pretty consistent--at least on the gauge--at about 11:45. Goes to 12:30 on the tollway. 93 octane only, Gunk lead substitute as directed.

When I drive around town, from cold, generally I go about 12-15 miles and tappet tango begins, usually one or two of the little boogers, perhaps attempting to break dance? This may continue for two blocks, perhaps adding an additional soloist, or it may go for five miles. It may disappear and then reappear, or may just disappear.

Stop for 20 minutes and it will generally be subdued for say 10 miles, then reappear.

Motor is running cool.

Recent new oil pump, "with the bushing".....before I got the car.

I'm running in D, not H, and I am ashamed to say that I baby the car outrageously.

Several friends have suggested seafoam or various exotic oils; others say "it's normal", whatever that is....

I would appreciate any prudent advice based on your experience........