Oil pressure on and off ??

sounds like the oil pumps pressure relief valve is shot, id start there. when you get oil pressure what kinda#s are you seeing?

Dan thank you for the response. Usually it hovers in the middle (30 / 60 Ibs in ) of the gauge depending on driving condition's with out any pinging. I have asked this question On a few other boards and have been getting a little flamed at for asking the same question other boards. With all the same response "check the timing chain could be loose in thus not turning the oil pump chain" I just got the Chilton's book on the raider and in the book it also says check the pressure relief valve spring . So again thank you for your impute

The other day I had no oil pressure again and I found out that if I drive until it changes to 2nd gear the oil pressure kicks in then and the engine stops pinging. I also noticed that it happens when its really cold -20 or colder so its seems like that spring is getting stuck then with pressure behind it it finally opens.

I was told many years ago that the oil ports in the 2.6l are smaller than they should have been and that you can't use 10w40 instead of 10w30 when it's colder like some do in the summer. Switching to a slightly thinner oil and adding some Lucas to the mix may help.