Fred and others,

My questions pertain to the oiling system within a standard small block chevrolet. Hopefully, this topic is appropriate for this forum. Let me apologize in advance if it is not.

I am currently trying to diagnose a potential problem regarding the oiling system on a 406 cid small block. The engine has been rebuilt using all new components (crank, rods, bearings, etc...) while checking all clearances and using common assembly practices. While priming the oil system before initial start up, I noticed that the left (driver's) side of the engine had oil coming through the pushrods as expected but the right (passenger's) side did not. In order to prime the oiling system, I was using a priming shaft connected to an electric drill which was spinning at approximately 400 rpm. I have not started the engine yet for fear of damaging the cam and lifters.

This leads me to my questions. I know that the main oil gallery feeds oil to the two lifter oil galleries but does this only happen in one passage in the rear of the block or are there multiple passages feeding oil from the main gallery to the lifter galleries? Also, is it possible that the drill I am using is not spinning the oil pump fast enough to make adequate pressure through both lifter galleries? I know that the pressurized oil will choose the path of least resistance but I find it odd that the entire right side of the block did not have any oil flowing through the pushrods. Although the block recieved multiple cleanings prior to the assembly, I am now concerned that the right side lifter gallery may have debris in it resulting in poor oil flow to the lifters. Any help, explanations, advise or otherwise is greatly appreciated.

TIA, Brian

p.s. All of the oil gallery plugs have been tapped for threaded plugs. Shallow plugs were used for all of them. None of the plugs appear to be sunk too far into the galleries as to block the passage of oil.

[This message has been edited by bn_bullet (edited September 10, 2002).]

 

stupid ? but what happens when you rotate the crank? do you gain pressure to any push rods or lose pressure to others?

[This message has been edited by 1989gta (edited September 10, 2002).]

 

Look back into who and how it was cleaned..was the block baked..Or was it washed..Did they run cleaning brushes made of stainless steel instead of nylon?Could be some old crappy carbon in the oil passsageway..Hopefully not

Turning the crank would help some because depending on what assembly lube you used it may be jamming up the holes..White grease is know for this..

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The main galley only feeds the lifter galleys at the back of the block, unless I'm suffering brain fade. The main galley does the cam bearings (from above) and the timing chain out the front to some extent.

If you have a little hand drill turning over the oil pump you will likely burn out the motor in the drill in about 45 seconds (preceeded by a lot of smoke and sparks!). An oil pump requires quite a bit of torque to turn it over with sufficient force to generate meaningful oil pressure for long enough to get oil everywhere in the system.

If you want to check for oil flow maybe take out one of the lifters of the offending side of the block, spin the oil pump and see if anything's coming out the lifter feed hole. Then at least you'll know it's getting that far.

 

You probably aren't using a primer tool that has a dist. body. The right side lifter galley oils around the dist. shaft if there's no shaft body there it doesn't oil. Some msd dist have o-rings on shaft to help oiling of the right side lifters.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses! I think TAYLORMADE may have hit the nail on the head. I was indeed using a priming shaft without a distributor body. I did not know that the right side oil gallery required the distributor shaft with the o-ring in order provide oil to the right side. I did use an oil soluble grease on the lifter bodies but I wouldn't think that the grease would be able to impede the pressurized oil that much. Also, the block was washed multiple times prior to assembly. The engine was running prior to disassembly for the rebuild with no oiling issues at that time.

Again, thanks for the help. Hopefully, the inital start up will be successful.

Brian