ok just got new heads put on my 350 gen 1 that is in a s10. i got the thing fired up and it was runnin for a second and it was pumping no oil up to the heads other than 1 push rod. so i went ahead shut it off and thought for a minute... thought maybe it just needed a second to get oil up through everything, fired a couple more times to no avail.. are all the lifters but 1 bad? what you think is happening?

also during this time it was firing and starting easily, then all the sudden it stopped starting and fired a backfire and caught on fire out the headers. at a complete loss of what just happened i cant get it started now. the oil thing bothers me the most.

any ideas guys?

 

Only thing that comes to mind is to double check the lifter adjustment. Hyd lifters have internal valving to regulate flow up thru pushrods, maybe misadjust would cause issues.

As far as it starting to backfire out the headers, any chance the distributor moved? If you installed a chrome hold down, remove it and throw it into the nearest trash can, those damn things have a well deserved rep for slipping.

Might also check for a vacuum leak, hose might have popped off, also retorque the intake manifold. And I always retorque the head bolts, even with "no retorque needed" head gaskets.

 

i agree about the valves beeing off, check them first, an unseated valve will defenitly cause backfire and lack of oil because the lash is just too tight