oil pump or not

hi all iv got a 1973 rr v8 and it was runing fine then i had it stud for about 4 weeks and set off out and it was missing and farting like mad thort it was a ht leed or 2 but when i opend the oil filler cap dry as a bone pulled the dip stick and oil is just where it shud be on the dip stick some one told me it may be the oil pump not that i can find it
if any one has any thorts on this pls let me no never had a rr befor so very new to it many thanks pk

was the oil light on?

The early rover V8 engines (the one where the oil pump is driven from the distributor) had crap oil pressure at the best of times and not a great deal gets to the top.

If left stood for long periods of time, the oil can drain from the pump back to the sump, if this happens, then the pump needs to be primed, it is not self priming, so to do it, you need to take off the oil pump base (the bit the oil filter screws onto), remove the gears, then pack the housing with vaseline, NOT grease! Push the gears back in and refit the base and oil filter, start the engine and the oil should then start to be pumped round, watch the oil light/gauge to make sure.

While the base is off, it'll be a good idea to check for wear to the housing, base and gears and make sure the relief valve is free.

If there is still no oil pressure then an engine rebuild is the only cure because as the oil pressure is crap anyway, any wear in the bearings, oil pump etc will make it worse.

Late "serpentine" engines don't have this problem as the oil pump and front cover have been modified and the pump is driven directly off the front of the crankshaft, the oil pressure on these engines is far better.

thanks did the job runing a dreem now many thanks