How about an advanced discussion of the LT1 block oiling system. I see where the oil comes into the pump from the pickup, but where exactly is the oil passage that feed the main bearing saddles and camshaft. What about the oiling system for the top end, is it completely fed just by the hole in the pushrod. How is oil pushed up the pushrod, is it just by some type of hydraulic action?

I think it would help me decide on how best to decide on oil system components, pump etc. if I completely understood the block oiling system. Is there any good diagrams around that show all of the passages in the block?

 

Being an LT1 newbie, I'd also like to know this.

 

There are some good diagrams I have in some books but let me take a shot at it out of memory....

Starts in the pickup, thru the pump, into the rear main cap to the block. Then directly into the oil filter, out of the filter into the hole on the bottom of the oil filter housing section of the block. Then up the back of the block, this is the hole that the oil pressure sending unit it plugged into. Then down to the top oil gallery (of the three you can see at the front and back of the block via the diagonal hole that's right next to the vertical one. That supplies the cam bearings. A grove under the cam bearings feeds the other two of the three you see in the front of the block to feed the lifters. The oil goes thru the lifters into the pushrods, up the pushrods and on to the top of the motor. The mains get fed from the cam bearings (not the best idea, that's why aftermarket blocks are better) the oil goes from around the main journals on the crank into the holes in the crank out to the rod journals and feeds them. Everything else is pretty much splash oiled.

Bret