HELP looks bad

I just took off the oil pan my 1964 225 Buick Special.It had about a 1/2'' of very thick build up in the pan.It also has some pitting in the pan.How bad is this?What else should I do while the pan is off?I know next to nothing about autos.If it's ever been rebuilt how can I tell?I also can't get the oil filter off.Should I just twist like a mad man?

 

Not an expert here but it sounds like that motor has been open to the elements at some point in history. Maybe running a high detergent oil a few times will clean things up some.

 

As far as the oil filter goes you can always stick a screwdriver through the bottom 1/4 of the filter and turn the screwdriver. What does the buildup look like?

 

It looked gray under the black.

 

yep that sounds good Dr. lynn

 

Don't throw the baby out with the bath water! You obviously could use a rebuild, high miles, heavy sludge. Since you have the pan off (is it in the vehicle?) you could check a main bearing and see what kind of wear the crank has (visually, scoring etc., plastigage it, crank has to be out for a real good check). You said you know little about mechanics, this is getting in the area you need a knowledgeable friend/mechanic to help out. Has the engine been run lately? 'cause moisture can build up in an engine, (condensation, left out in the elements.) oil is lighter water will stay at the bottom and blow-by could put things in the oil that help cause the pitting. Obviously if the pitting is bad it should be repaired or better replaced. Stuck oil filters take a heavy hand, the screwdriver through the filter works, messy but works, or take an oil filter wrench, put folded sand paper over the filter so it sandwiches between the wrench and the filter giving it traction. Sometimes this works. I've had them stuck so bad that all that was left was the base and I had to use a hammer and chisel! Good luck!
Joe

 

How should I go about cleaning the pick up?

 

pipe wrench works good for removing stuck filters. (try before the screwdriver)

 

CAUTION do try pipe wrench first.The srew driver trick works well and cuts fingers better.Got the pan all cleaned up (inside and out).JB welded the out side (for the pitts on the inside).It's been sanded and wire wheeled like mad and some fresh paint.

 

Still waitin on some info on cleanin the pick up.

 

I took my oil P/U off of the engine and soaked it and blew it out with compressed air, worker well for me

 

every oil pan I have ever taken off an F head engine was full of crud and corruption.

Gray is the usual color.

I'd diagnose your engine as being old. Beyond that nothing or everything could be wrong.

It is a good idea to clean the oil pickup scavenge. On the F head you can pry the bent tabs open and get the screen out. It too has always been full of crud and corruption.


I'd clean it, reinstall the scavenge and pan, and fire it up.

You can assume something is wrong with the engine and take it further apart, or you can assume that the engine is OK. For me, I always go with the OK solution until I am proven wrong.

But then again I am interested making in a running vehicle, not making a new one.

 

Been there, done that!

Grab a $2 aerosol can of brake cleaner and blow the crap off the pickup screen (doesn't matter if it's installed or removed, just blast it & wear eye protection). Replace pan, filter, & 3 quarts of oil and 1 Qt. of kerosene (or equivalent "Motor Flush" from AutoZone). Run engine at idle for 5 minutes; drain oil again, replace filter once more, and pull pan. Remove final bit of crud off pickup screen. New oil & filter and your engine's flushed and clean & ready to go!

Yes it's a process, but it'll clean out all the sludge in your precious V6. Oh, and believe your oil pressure gauge, lol.

 

would substitue 1qt of atf for motor oil each change to help remove sludge left by the kero.

 

Should I replace the PU gasket?

 

depends on whether it gets damaged or not during disassembly
if you have one, it is a good idea; don't want a giant sucking sound !
If you dont have one, just clean the pickup head by the spray method as mentioned above