265 V8 no oil to heads!

[Michael L.]

OK, getting ready to fire up the '55, get the oiling tool with the flange on it, spin the pump and get 30 lbs at the gauge. No oil to heads at all, dry as a bone. Take out the spark plugs and turn the engine slowly by the crank. Still no lube to the heads. Help! Dreading taking apart the motor to find cam bearings in wrong or the builder put in a cam without the proper notch ( as I advised him had to go in the motor twice!)

Any ideas before I take the motor out and disassemble?

Oh, well, at least my wiring job worked...

Mike

[William C.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

My Memory may be failing me here, but isn't there also an issue with a flat on the distributor that has to be aligned properly on a 265? If you have a '56 Pass car service manual (I don't) it should show the oil flow to the heads.

[Bill M.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

My Memory may be failing me here, but isn't there also an issue with a flat on the distributor that has to be aligned properly on a 265? If you have a '56 Pass car service manual (I don't) it should show the oil flow to the heads.

I think the flat is on the rear cam journal...

[Gary C.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Michael, do a search on the TDB archives. 265 rear bearing notch, etc. been covered in depth several times. If not notched they're won't be any oil to the rockers. Gary....

[Wayne P.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Besides the notched camshaft, you must have a distributor with a flat on one side. Otherwise the oil canNOT get to the heads. Check the distributor housing before you get too excited about the cam.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Wayne, the distributor has the flat side on it. I used the old style primer tool with no flange on it, no oil to heads. Then I bought the newer version with the flange that fits the distributor hole snugly, same result no oil to heads. But, this tool does not have a flat spot on it... Could this prevent oiling up top? Options?

Thanks! Mike

[Clem Z.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Wayne, the distributor has the flat side on it. I used the old style primer tool with no flange on it, no oil to heads. Then I bought the newer version with the flange that fits the distributor hole snugly, same result no oil to heads. But, this tool does not have a flat spot on it... Could this prevent oiling up top? Options?

Thanks! Mike

i would oil the rocer arms and start the engine and see if you have oil then. a short time with no oil will cause you no problems. if you have solid lifters and did not prefill them with oil it will take a while to fill them.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Clem, I assume that since I have been priming this thing for about an hour on and off today, that the lower end should be lubed. The gauge is showing just under 30 lbs pressure. Should I leave on valve cover off and put clips on the open cover? How long would be reasonable to run without seeing oil?

Thanks

Mike

[Bob E.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Mike, I had a very original, untouched 265 from a 1955 Chev passenger car rebuilt by a very respected long established machine shop in 1980. When I reinstalled the engine and started it after the rebuild I also had no oil to the heads. I called the shop and told the owner about the problem, he told me he suspected the shop guys put the rear cam bearing in wrong. As I recall (this was 28 years ago) he told me that 265s had their rear cam bearing oil hole placed differently than all small blocks after the 265. He said he had meant to make sure it was installed correctly since they didn't see many 265s anymore, even at that time, but it had escaped his attention when they ressembled it. The owner sent a truck and picked up the car. They pulled the engine in their shop, disassembled and replaced the rear cam bearing. They returned the car to me with the problem cured. The engine ran silky smooth and quiet.

Hope this helps,
Bob Ekdahl

[Edward M.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Michael;

I just went through this with my 56 engine.

Your oiling tool needs a flat on the side similar to the flat on an original 56 distirbutor. I took my standard oiling tool (an old distributor housing and bare shaft) and ground a flat on it to sort of match the flat on my original 56 distributor.

Engine oiled up just fine, including the heads. No big deal.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Wish my situation was as easy: The engine was rebuilt in a city 650 miles away. We moved and took the motor with us, I have been restoring the car for 2 years, not so easy to get the motor to the machinist who built it.

I suspect they either did not heed my mentions of the cam with the flat spot on the journal for the oiling or assumed the 265 was the same as other small blocks and indeed installed the bearing incorrectly. Now, will he foot the bill for someone else to do the job right or pay freight to and from... that is my dilemma. I spent close to 3 grand to have the motor rebuilt, I just want it to run and not be stuck laying out more cash to fix wheat should have been right from the start.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Ed, out to the garage to grind the flat spot on the oiler. Since I bought it just for the '55 and I'd rather trash a $25 tool than yank a motor, I'll fire up the grinder and go for it. I'll let you know if that worked. Thanks!

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Ed, ground the tool to match the distributor, ran the drill for 3 minutes, turned the engine 90 degrees and spun the tool again until I hit 360 degrees, nothing! I'll try starting it as suggested for a minute or two, then I guess I yank the motor and check cam and bearing installation...

[Roy B.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

If they used the original cam bearing the hole is at the top ( may have missed the hole) ,or they dint cut the cam . I always tell people to hand run the oil pump before installing the engine to be sure the shop rebuilt it correct. Sorry mike , I'll take that 55 off your hands if you wont

[Clem Z.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Clem, I assume that since I have been priming this thing for about an hour on and off today, that the lower end should be lubed. The gauge is showing just under 30 lbs pressure. Should I leave on valve cover off and put clips on the open cover? How long would be reasonable to run without seeing oil?

Thanks

Mike

if it has pressure on the gage i would give it a go and if everything is OK you should see oil on top in less than a minute