low oil pressure

[nickfixit]

I am responsible for maintaining a 91 S-10 with four wheel drive, automatic and a 4.3 L engine that has the oil light come on at an idle when it is fully warmed up. We switched to 10w-40 oil, but it was not much better. A local mechanic told me to install new rod, main bearings and an oil pump. He said it will be tough getting that engine out to work on it. Should I pull the cab off to get the engine out or can I drop the front drive axle to get the oil pan off?

[maxwedge]

Tough job in car, you may have to lower the ft axle to get the pan off, check Autozone.com, repair guides.

[nickfixit]

Maxwedge, thanks for the answer on pulling the pan. Looks like a lot of work. I went to the oil filter in front and removed a plug to install an oil gauge. I read 45 psi cold and 20 hot at an idle. The original gauge is faulty and reads near zero at an idle. I can live with that and not tear it apart.