Oil Pressure/Check oil on 1919 Chevrolet 4 Cylinder

[Chevy490]

I just got a 1919 Chevrolet model 490 with the original engine. The engine runs good.  It has no dip stick. (and apparently never had one) There are 2 drain spigots on the pan, one higher than the other. I am guessing the lower one is used to drain the oil. The top one is used to check and see if any oil runs out of it?
(Fill it up until oil just barely runs out of the top spigot to check proper oil level?)
The oil pressure gauge only shows about 2 lbs pressure.  I don't have the service manual yet but I am guessing this engine runs on pretty low oil pressure at idle.  Thanks for any input




This engine never had a valve cover, the oil can is to lube the valve train every time the car is used!

[ghost28]

I have no idea, but I would really like to see a picture of your chevy being it is all original.

[TFoch]

I don't an answer to your question but welcome to the forum.  I'm sure someone here will have an answer for you.
Tom

[sammons]

What Ghost said!    Welcome.  I just googled VCCA and your question, looks like you guessed right. Looks like approx 4qts, bottom drain and top petcock to check fill level. Another fella on there was talking about waiting for the pressure to reach 2psi before driving.

You can check them out @ Vintage Chevrolet Club of America(VCCA) at the link below under "other forums".

[sixball]

I don't know much about the 490 Chevy but a little about the 171. There is a thread on the HAMB mostly about '28 Chevy engines. Some of those guys might know about the earlier engines. I'd like to see pictures of your car. I'm working on a '26 roadster with a newer engine and I have a couple of '28 engines. A friend in rebuilding a '25 dirt track car. I also have a 1919 Essex 4 Cylinder I'd like to put in something racy.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/1928-chevy-4cyl-motor.463465/

[themoose]

Welcome aboard...Here's a link to a pretty interesting  discussion about the oiling system on VCCA chat where one of the guys mentions 2 lbs of pressure so it would seem that's what they run.

Click here VCCA Chat

[ghost28]

That old chevy looks gooood, and is a true survivor. Congratulation on your new purchase.

[TFoch]

Very old Chevy!  Thanks for posting the pics.
Tom

[sixball]

That is very nice. I bet it is a lot of fun. Even the later Chevy 4s up to '28 didn't have a valve cover like we expect. It was a dust cover and the bottom did not seal. There was a felt pad that was squirted with oil and oil from it oiled the rockers. You find a lot of worn out top end stuff.