[not2brite]

I am not a deep engine guy and could use some expert advice.

A couple of weeks ago my 66 Mustang with a 410 Windsor suddenly quit on the road at low speed, low rpm. At first I thought it was a bad coil but after I got it home I discoverd the oil pump had siezed causing the distributor gear shear pin to shear, immediately shutting down the engine.

I don't know why the pump siezed. The engine had good oil pressure to that point. The engine was not overheated nor was it under load (cruising at about 35 MPH). I don't think any bad things happened to the engine as it still turns over easily using the starter.

I just received a new Mellings +25% volume oil pump, pickup, and hardened pump drive shaft and will drop the pan and windage tray to install the new pump early next week. The optomist in me thinks I'll just be able to install the new pump, find #1 cylinder TDC, install the repaired distributor and be good for the next umpteen thousand miles.

The pessimist in me sees any number of unknowable horrors awaiting me. Any advice as to what I should look for while the pan is down? Installation advice? Do's and don'ts? THANKS!!

[EagleAutosports]

I've had this same exact thing happen except it didn't shut my engine down, it kept running and I was able to get it home with no damage. I had just pulled out of the driveway and noticed no oil pressure. It snapped the ARP hardened pump shaft where it necks down. Anyway, be prepared to pull the engine all the way out. You can do it by raising the engine a bit but you'll be on your back and crawling all over the hoist legs and considering how far up you'll actually have to raise the engine, just pull it all the way out. As long as you're confident the distributor is up to snuff, it's just an R&R procedure. The Ford Windsor oil pump is prone to seizing, and it'll do it with no warning or reason. You could put in a new pump and drive another 100000 miles. It could seize up an hour later. A hardened shaft is required with that high volume pump but even then it can still seize and break. Hope it doesn't happen again to you.