sudden oil pressure loss?

[grumpyvette]

C3 1972 LS powered 2005 base LS2 engine w/60k miles. I'm on my way to work and after 6 miles or so, I look down to see "Check Oil Pressure" and look at the guage which is at zero. I realize the engine is making just a little noise and pull in immediately, pop the hood and have oil scattered on the drivers side...alternator area. Any thoughts on what could have let go (a line, etc) that would have caused this?

I went back and noticed I had leaked oil on the road for about a 1/10th of a mile, so it wasn't like I drove it far w/no oil pressure. Also, it wasn't like there was a big boom and the oil pressure left. More like it just started leaking oil heavy and when it was out the engine started making a little noise. Is there anything that could have blew that would have cause this...past the oil filter? Are there any oil lines?
I should also add that I killed the engine as soon as I saw it had zero oil pressure...then noticed I was 50 feet from a safe parking spot and fired it right back up and drove to it with no issues...cranked back up fine, drove 50ft fine.

well if it was my car ID, pour in two-to three new quarts of oil, verify the dip stick shows oil, then have it TOWED home and put up on the lift and do a very detailed inspection to locate the source of the leak!
and I sure would NOT restart the engine untill I located that leak, but an oil filter or oil cooler line failure seems likely, Id also check to see if you damaged the oil pan or the drain plug worked loose and fell out!
yeah! I did not have a lift for 30 plus years so I'm well aware many guys will need to use decent jack stands and a floor jack, I have and still use my set of 12 ton jack stands and my mechanics creeper, it might take a bit more effort but you can still do the job just fine and do it safely with 4 12 ton jack stands , I can easily see where many guys don,t have the room or the cash to have a lift but having a decent quality floor jack, 4 12 ton jack stands , mechanics creeper, and a shop manual is damn near mandatory if you own a corvette and don,t want to pay outrageous dealer charges and repair costs.
a transmission cooler , and /or oil cooler generally increases transmission, and engine life expectancy
I would strongly suggest you never consider use of fuel line and AN type fitting for use as transmission fluid transfer lines even if a transmission fluid cooler is used,
if you bring the current fittings that fit the transmission to a local hydraulic supply shop along with the exact length of the lines you need and explain what your trying to do , they can fabricate the correct, high pressure and high heat tolerant, transmission fluid lines to your exact specifications for VERY REASONABLE COST, thus preventing what might otherwise become a potential weak link.
common rubber fuel line will NEVER hold up under the heat and pressure of a transmission fluid transfer line ,long term.
most rubber fuel line , even FUEL INJECTION LINE is rated to work at UNDER 200 psi and UNDER 250 F, your typical transmission fluid will occasionally exceed 250F and commonly run in the 160F-210F temp range even with a trans fluid cooler
http://www.novaflex.com/productcart/pc/features_pdf/mjarine Fuel Hose2.pdf

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6113/Barricade_Training_Final.pdf

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/flex-fuel-lines.4381/#post-14833

hydraulic line is usually rated OVER 2500 psi and up to 300F temps


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http://www.discounthydraulichose.co....htm?Click=2&gclid=COWnvIjq9ckCFVQ2aQoddYEF_g

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if you can take clear pictures of what they find at any repair shop you have it towed too, or if you take it home and put it up on jack stands you can get a camera, and post them, If you caught it early the repairs should be fairly easy and cost far less than what would have resulted if you failed to notice the low oil pressure and kept driving.

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26&hilit=corvette+jack+stands

http://forum.grumpysperformance.com...178&p=38649&hilit=corvette+jack+stands#p38649

 

[grumpyvette]

good luck tracking this down! Keep us updated.

Grumpy, i hate to say, but i am all to familiar with that view in the picture you posted.

I think most of us old geezers with older corvettes, and muscle cars, are!
between my 1985 and 1996 corvettes and my brother in laws 1974 , vette, and Jacks 1987 corvette and Franks 1967 corvette, various friends with muscle cars ,ETC.I spend a good deal of time on a creeper and under cars supported by jack stands and lifts