All,
Got the pan off. I finally dropped the starter (as if it wasn't coming off anyway!). Then had room to get the putty knife further around the perimeter...did use the torch, seemed it did help.
Considered trying Jerry's idea of blowing it off but the fireworks stands won't be open for a few weeks and DARN, I'm out of dynamite...again.
Oh, on the pan, The plate bolted to the bottom that covers the trap door assembly...was NOT removed until now for the photo. But I DID remove the sheet metal dam (spot welded on) that ran from front to rear...sort of a "fence" to keep to keep
oil from climbing the wall...maybe not accurate to call it a "scraper", more of a baffle.
Anyway, couldn't get the pan on with the "flow dam" in place over the girdle...do plan to replace the flow dam, and try to figure out how to retain the girdle.
In the picture the "bolted on bottom plate" IS off so you can see the junk.
FWIW the trap doors are free and easy to move, no binding.
In the picture of the lower end, maybe someone can tell if its a standard or high-volume by looking at the depth of the pump body...will pull it later on and check the parts number later. I ask as whichever it was, it was shimmed to lower the pressure when the engine was assembled. Initially over 100psi after shimming ended up about 80 cold. I do NOT want to do that in the car, the engine was on a test stand when that was done.
Judging by the amount of junk in the pan, very plausible, as someone suggested, stuff was sucked up against the pump screen and blocked it, dropping
oil pressure further. When the engine was shut off, it fell back to the bottom of the pan. Man, you guys are good...
Until I clean up a bit and plan how to organize parts, caps, etc I am going to wait to pull the rod/main caps.
Seems pretty foregone at this point the engine is coming out.
Will post more photos when the caps come off.
Thanks, Pete