[TR] TR3A Oil pressure

[Randall]

> at hot idle it drops to about 20psi and that
> continues to make me uncomfortable.

If it bugs you, try stuffing some new bearing inserts in it.  You can do the
rod bearings with the engine still in the car, takes a half day or so (less
if you work quickly, which I don't).

I've even been known to change the main bearings that way, although I didn't
last time.  Whether you can do the rear main may depend on which flywheel
you have installed; I've always been able to get the cap off but some folks
say it won't fit.

After changing the rod bearings, my pressure at hot idle went from under 10
psi to around 20-30, which I'm comfortable with for the moment.  Eventually
I'll give the engine a proper rebuild, but for the moment it's running good
and "ain't broke".

One of my previous TRs showed basically NO pressure at hot idle when I got
the car.  DPO evidently never changed the oil, just drove the car until it
wouldn't run any more, then left it in his Mom's back yard and moved away.
I drove it all summer that way with no apparent ill effects.  But it was
badly down on power (especially at lower rpm), so we put a different motor
in it the next winter.

-- Randall