In the old searces RB83L69 saw an oil pump that failed from the plastic centering insert falling out from the shaft. I can see this orange/red plastic ring halfway down on the oil pump shaft, does it have to be up in the block?
(Failing oil pressure, limped home with stalling at low RPM allthough temp did'nt rise , one short start try had lifter clatter up top, working on the pan removal tonight, wanted more time than this to get a 350 together.)
This is a well taken care of 200,000 mile 305.

 

It's not up into the block, exactly; it lives at the junction of the intermediate shaft and the top of the oil pump gear, and that ends up between the top of the pump and the bottom of the main cap where the shaft goes through. They start out life as clearish white plastic, get yellow or orange-brown with age.

 

i never reuse one when i put an engine together. i always buy a one piece drive shaft for the oil pump from ARP for less than 10 dollars.

 

OK then the shaft is still connected.
Will some other failure, (spring or chewed shaft top) be evident when I actually get the pump off?
Maybe the dist. should have come out before all of this engine jacking,and Y pipe stud stuff.
I am 83% sure the oil pump quit ,but had enough pressure to the bottom end before I shut it off.