Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

[Joe L.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

I did this on my first engine when I was 17. I had problems with it flaking off. I have built many track engines since then without internal paint. I do spend about an hour or so with sanding rolls, commonly used for head porting, to polish out the lifter valley and timing cover area. What you are looking for is a smooth surface to assist oil drain back and that can be accomplished with the metal itself.

I guess the reality is that once the surface is wet it is going to flow unpressurized oil the same. For track engines I do tap and plug the oil drain back holes in the valley near the cam and open up the lower part of the drain back holes in the front and rear. The theory there is to control the oil back to the pan and don't allow it to be thrown again by the turning crank.

Michael-----


If you had a problem with the paint flaking off, I suspect that problem was caused either by the use of an incorrect paint or by the painted surfaces not being 100% free of oil prior to painting and, most likely, the latter. As I mentioned previously, the most serious impediment to coating the block and heads as-cast surfaces is the presence of oil. It's VERY difficult to get these sort of surfaces 100% oil-free.

[Tom P.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

This is a SB400 that I painted over 10yrs ago.


This is another SB400 in the Chevelle that I painted and built in 98. I had to pull a head because of a pinhole in #2 combustion chamber that went into the water jacket. By the way, notice how clean #2 piston is from water in the combustion chamber!


This is under the valve cover of the 400 in the 56.



This is a freshly painted 420SB that I built for the boat. Notice the old cam/lifters in place for painting.






Oh ya, and here is how to make good use of the plugged hole in the front of the block----------put an oil pressure gauge in it!

[Michael H.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

This is a SB400 that I painted over 10yrs ago.

Looks like a lot of work. Nice job though.

Slightly off topic... are those main cap studs using SAE fine thread nuts?

[Bill M.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

Here's what I found inside my 396.

[Tom P.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

Looks like a lot of work. Nice job though.

Slightly off topic... are those main cap studs using SAE fine thread nuts?

No, those are the factory Chevy bolts/studs for windage trays. The stud end has 3/8-16 threads. I always use a lockwasher under the nut.

[Michael H.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

No, those are the factory Chevy bolts/studs for windage trays. The stud end has 3/8-16 threads. I always use a lockwasher under the nut.

I was looking at the front main cap. Looks like studs/nuts. If SAE/fine thread, what do you torque to?

[Michael B.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

Joe C,

I have been doing that since the early 70's and never had a flat cam problem. But I can't honestly say I've seen these engines 100,000 miles later either.

There is oil coming off the sides of the lifters, the cam bearings, and the crank throws to lube the cam lobes. There is an internal hurricane of oil that blows inside these engines while they are running to lube the cam lobes and lifters. I'm sure there are videos of this on You Tube some where. The drain back holes are not aligned for any specific lube purpose. BB cam lobes are exposed to the valley while the SB is not. Apparenty different engineering consideration between the two designs.

[Tom P.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

I was looking at the front main cap. Looks like studs/nuts. If SAE/fine thread, what do you torque to?

Whoops, sorry about that, you're correct. Those are studs and as I recall, I torqued them to about 80lbs.

[Joe R.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

If you don't have a high volume oil pump (which you shouldn't) then there is even LESS reason to do this.

Joe,

I'm planning to run the ZL-1 oil pump recommended by Joe Lucia. So, it's standard volume, standard pressure.

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

Joe,

I'm planning to run the ZL-1 oil pump recommended by Joe Lucia. So, it's standard volume, standard pressure.

Joe

I would think that the ZL1 pump is standard volume, high pressure.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

I would think that the ZL1 pump is standard volume, high pressure.

the LS-7/ZL-1 oil pump # 3969870 is a high volume pump. to check what you have measure the gear lenght and the high volume one has gears of 1-5/16" long and the standard volume pump has gears of 1-1/8" long

[Michael H.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

the LS-7/ZL-1 oil pump # 3969870 is a high volume pump.

Kinda high pressure too, isn't it Clem?

[Joe L.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

the LS-7/ZL-1 oil pump # 3969870 is a high volume pump. to check what you have measure the gear lenght and the high volume one has gears of 1-5/16" long and the standard volume pump has gears of 1-1/8" long

clem----


Yes, the ZL-1 pump is a high volume, high pressure pump. However, it's the one I recommend for big blocks, including non ZL-1 and non SHP. I do not recommend high volume oil pumps for small blocks, but big blocks are a different situation. As a matter of fact, ALL Gen V and Gen VI big blocks use a high volume pump.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

clem----


Yes, the ZL-1 pump is a high volume, high pressure pump. However, it's the one I recommend for big blocks, including non ZL-1 and non SHP. I do not recommend high volume oil pumps for small blocks, but big blocks are a different situation. As a matter of fact, ALL Gen V and Gen VI big blocks use a high volume pump.

yes BBC have lots of intermal oil losses so using a volume pump is OK BUt i would add 1 quard over full if you plan on running the engine to the redline. my 66 427 corvette would start to loose oil pressure going thru the gears unless i ran 1 quart over full and it does hurt anything because 1 quart over the oil is still below the windage tray.

[Clem Z.]

Re: Improve oil drain back with Glyptol?

Kinda high pressure too, isn't it Clem?

yes and no depends how much bearing clearance you have in the engine.