I am buying a 95 Z28 that is not getting any oil to the top of the engine. He said the oil gauge doesn't work and when he started it I didn't see any oil pumping in the valve cover. The lifters make some noise, due to no oil, but the bottom end sounds great. Has anyone ever experienced this problem before? Thais for any help.

 

Check the oil pressure with a mechanical gauge.

 

First thing I plan on doing. I am hoping it's just the oil pump drive shaft.

 

You need to cut the oil filter open and look for debri, I have done 1 LT1 that had the same symptoms u are having and it ended up being a spun cam bearing. The oil pressure gauge in the cluster showed about 5 psi at idle with engine at operating temp, the top end was pretty noisey and the bottom end sounded normal.....just my 2 cents.

 

Well finally put a mechanical oil pressure gauge on the car and it has no oil pressure. I am going to pull the intake and hope that it is the oil pump drive shaft, if not then down comes the oil pan. The motor sound great for the brief couple times I heard, the guy I bought the car from said he didn't know what was wrong with it so he didn't get to drive it with the new engine, but it sounds tough. The engine had a Lingenfelter badge on it, hopefully it has the parts in it as well..lol

 

Aren't you a bit concerned by the fact you may have been misled to believe the pressure gauge was faulty? Did you consider the possibility it was disabled to hide the fact there was no oil pressure?

 

Not really. I paid $1500 for a 95 Z28 with a new tranny, new gears in the rear, half way decent leather interior, a body that just needs paint later down the road, and at the worst a LT1 that may need a rebuild. I think I still got a good deal. I truthfully think it is just going to need a oil pump or the oil pump drive. The guy from the beginning told me it needed work and possibly an oil pump.

 

IF it is in fact a NEW engine, its possible it wasnt primed or has sat too long before being run. Even if the oil pump drive isnt broke, use a drill to spin the shaft and use the mechanical gauge to see if it registers. Sometimes a new engine wont just pick up the oil right off without proper priming. Worth checking.