freshly built 1969 350/350. on initial start up noted poor oil flow to the rockers. gave plenty of time for the lifters to pump up. still not good oil flow. checked three plugs up front under timing cover. checked the rear main plug. checked all pushrods for obstructions. checked oil pump and chenged it. have heard there my be a certain distributor for this motor with specific lobes that plug rear gally holes to allow for oil flow up to lifter valley. oil only getsa as high as lifter valley but not into it. i can see oil at the rear of the lifter valley flowing well. oil psi40-50 when revved 20 when at idle. Im stumped. opened the motor three times since initial start up. any suggestions would be appreciated. Im pondering new lifters but whats the chance of a set of bum lifters right out of the box. help
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
All Chevy V-8 distributors have two machined lobes near the bottom that form an oil passage when properly installed which feeds oil to the lifter galleries; you can see them on the distributor and the priming tool in the photo below. Does your distributor have them? Is the distributor fully seated against the intake?
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
some chevy distributors do not have the oil passage groove that john discribed 360 degrees around and can shut off the oil to the lifters on the passenger side if installed incorrectlyComment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
Going back to the memory bank couldn't a turned cam bearing cut the oil off to the top end ? Good Luck Terry #43499Comment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
not on a later block as the oil groove to feed the lifter gallery is behind the cam bearingComment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
definately have the right distributor thanks for the picture. I fired it up again yesterday after double checking the dist. being seated correctly. Noted the #7 and 8# to oil better than ever before, actually like Jed Clampets oil find, but the reat of the rockers were still minimal. I think its time to open her up again and checked for an obstruction in the lifter canal and then maybe consider new lefter as these may be a bum set.???? still stumped Thanks for the suggestions if anything else comes to mind let me know, Id like to get this bugger running right so I can drop the body back down on the frame.Comment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
I'm indebted to you for posting your question. I have a '64 SHP Roadster and am in the final stages of frame off and complete mechanical restoration. When about ready to take to the road I primed the oil system with a drill motor and long tang ( cut off screwdriver ) until I had 40 lbs. on the gauge.
Your letter led me to removing the valve covers today to find most rockers oil dry. Talked to the engine shop that had repaired my heads and they went over all of the possibilities with a bare 327 block for illustration. They also gave me a dummy distributor drive with oil seal lands for proper priming ( the earlier drill and tang doid nothing for the valve deck ) with the advice to keep running the drill motor until all rockers show oil. I just finished doing this. It took about five minutes of drill time in bursts of about one to two minutes. In the process I noticed that there were a few air bubbles being expelled. I'll re-install the distributor tomorrow and try a short run and another cover off inspection. I believe that it will be all right.
Your idle pressure, 20#, seems low for cold oil but I believe that it should still be adequate to get the oil to the top. I hope that you don't have to buy another set of lifters.
Pat McInerney, 37445Comment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
Hi Pat
Was the cam shaft replaced and is the lack of oil worst on the pasenger side.
TonyComment
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I'm not sure if you're asking a question or not.
If you're pre-lubing your engine, turn it at 90 degrees intervals while you pre-lube it. That should get oil to all the rockers.Comment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
Tony,
Could you explain your questions related to the camshaft replacement and the lesser amount of oiling in the passengers side?
Thanks,
James WestComment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
Thing to consider. On my 68 big block there is a rear cam bearing that is critical to oil getting to the top end of the engine. There was a engine change occuring in about 67 that required a different rear cam bearing and a differently machined rear cam journal. There are others that know more about this. You might have a similar situation on your engine.
I heard of old style rear cam bearings and new style rear cam bearings and I have heard of a bearing that accomodated both types (in big blocks). The difference in the cams was that one had a big groove cut in the rear journal and the other did not.
TerryComment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
Sorry for the confusion. My post was intended as a reply to Jorje's upper oiling difficulties outlined in his post of August 29.
After priming last evening I ran the engine this morning and oil supply to the valves is now normal.
Pat McInerneyComment
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Priming tool
Hello John, I was wondering where I could get a priming tool. I have asked auto parts stores in my area but know one seems to be able to get me one. Or maybe they don't want to? Could you let me know where I can get one? Thank you MikeD#1787Comment
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Re: not getting oil to the rockers
Glad to see you got your problem straightened out.
As an aside, I've seen the rear cam bearing not seated fully in bore, which blocks oil flow up to the valve train, but gives a good pressure reading. That would be the result of a careless installer. It's a lot of fun having to rip a fresh engine down after you just got it up & running. I learned that one on a 63 fuelie.
RichComment
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Re: Priming tool
take a old chevy distributor and remove the teeth from the gear,fashion a way to drive it and you are set to go. just braze a 3/8" bolt with a 9/16" hex to the top of the shaft and turn it with a speed wrench or use a 9/16" socket in a drill motorComment
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