265 V8 no oil to heads!

[Bill M.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

The description I have for the 265 says the rear cam bearing has two holes drilled in it. It also says that the slot in the cam is larger for hydraulic lifters.

[William C.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

265 Corvette engines did not use hydraulic lifters.

[Edward M.]

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...

Sorry to hear that did not resolve your problem. Be sure to oil the rockers before you start the engine. Best of luck.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Got it running after priming and hand priming lifters: Still no oil to heads... Looks like it goes back to a shop for tear apart...

[Joe L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Got it running after priming and hand priming lifters: Still no oil to heads... Looks like it goes back to a shop for tear apart...

Michael-----


I was afraid it was probably going to come to that. I thought all along that improper camshaft rear bearing or improper installation thereof was the root of this.

The biggest problem is that 55-56 Chevrolet V-8's are so uncommon nowadays, most shops just won't have the experience to know that there were important differences with respect to later small blocks. Most "machine shop guys" will just assume that all small block were the same with respect to cams, cam bearings and installation. That's a costly error. Especially for those folks that don't catch the oiling problem and just start and run the engine.

[Roy B.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Your not alone 53-54 guys after having their engine rebuilt thier engine gets hot going up a hill or running 55 or faster because the shop puts the large freeze plug in the block like the car engine has but Corvette NO!

I'll bet Clinton would still say to you ( I feel your Pain)

[Wayne P.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Just for fun, before you go to a lot of work and $$, make sure the distributor is postioned correctly. My memory says it will only work one way. Sorry I don't remember which way.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Wayne, on the '55 distributor it only has one direction it can face with the vacuum can and oiler tube on it. I got it running to see if I could get oil to heads, ran it for 3 minutes no oil up top. Turned over on first try, no back fires anything, juts dry valves...

Time to take it to a reputable mechanic and fix the problem. The guy who did the work is now telling me it is not his problem. So, off to file complaints with the Attorney Generals office and sue him if need be.

[Jim T.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

This oiling problem reminds me of my 265. I just had to buy this 1955 Bel Air 2-door sedan when I was 16. Had the 265 engine. Remember driving it and the heard this squeaking. Pulled valve covers and saw that the rocker arms were not getting any oil. I had been had on this car deal. Poured oil on the rockers for short time use. Did not know what could of been wrong until reading these posts. I knew of a recently wrecked 57 Chev one owner that had been serviced by the Chev dealership since new and bought the 283 and installed it in my 55. The 283 was a really good running engine.

[Joe L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Wayne, on the '55 distributor it only has one direction it can face with the vacuum can and oiler tube on it. I got it running to see if I could get oil to heads, ran it for 3 minutes no oil up top. Turned over on first try, no back fires anything, juts dry valves...

Time to take it to a reputable mechanic and fix the problem. The guy who did the work is now telling me it is not his problem. So, off to file complaints with the Attorney Generals office and sue him if need be.

Michael-----


At this point, I would say that the engine problem you have is almost certainly "the problem of the engine builder". It's just that he's, apparently, decided to not accept responsibility for the problem. He probably still does not accept the fact that 55-56 small blocks are different than later in this regard.

I would make sure that the problem is carefully documented when the engine is torn down. Copious photos of the rear cam bearing as installed in the engine, the block's rear cam journal with the bearing removed, the bearing after its removal, and the camshaft rear journal (if it's incorrect) are in order. A statement, signed and notarized if possible, of the shop repairing the engine would also be important. It doesn't need to be a lengthy report; just a simple statement of what they found and what they did to correct it.

Send copies of the above to the original engine builder and there may not be a need for further legal action. But, if there is, you'll have all the "ammunition" you need to prevail. If he doesn't pay up when he sees your photos and report, he likely will right after he's served with a summons.

[Michael L.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Joe, thanks for the reply! The thing that makes this all the worse is that the shop owner has been a family "friend" for 10 years. He and his wife and kids have even stayed at my home and had dinner while they were traveling through Reno... Guess that is when you find out who has integrity or not... I'm not even asking for money back, just for him to pay for any additional work for him to fix what he did not do to begin with.

Thanks!

Mike L.

[Bob E.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Hi,
Here is a link to Ecklers Classic Chevy that explains 265 rear cam bearing oiling pretty well. Look at the last frequently asked question.

http://www.classicchevy.com/rest_questions.asp

Bob Ekdahl

[Roy B.]

Re: 265 V8 no oil to heads!

Pull the darn engine out bring up to me and we can fix it for under $200.00, intake,timing cover ,valve cover ,gaskets and new cam bearing even cut the cam if needed in one day, two at most then we can BS and drink bud.