No Oil to Heads...

[doctorpimp]

I am really pissed off right now.   

I was just priming my new, fully assembled engine using the Mopar priming rod and a drill. 
I had the drill going counter clockwise and could hear the oil squirting through the engine.  The drill was VERY laboured turning the rod.  I removed the oil fill cap from the valve cover and noticed it was dry in there!  I removed both valve covers and both were dry.  So, I started the disection of my new rebuilt motor:
I have plenty of oil pressure at the lifters (hydraulic) but no oil at all coming from the head gallery passages.  I pulled out the lifter next to the gallery and ran the drill.  It was a gusher, but still no oil to the heads.

Does anyone know what would cause this?

Rebuilt 400 short-block from machine shop - all new bearings etc.  I assembled the upper end.  Did I leave anything out?

[72pettyblue]

Are you turning the engine slowly while you are priming?  While the cam is turning, it will line up for a brief second with the hole in the camshaft bearing sending oil to the rocker arm.  You have to do both at the same time.

[Lurker]

did you turn the motor over by hand while priming? i think (i might be wrong) you need to turn the engine over to get oil up top.

[doctorpimp]

I tried that too. I'll give it another shot.

Are the heads fed by the cam bearings?  I thought it was from the lifter gallery on a B/RB...
I hope the cam bearings weren't installed wrong.

[Ghoste]

I thought the rocker shafts were fed by one of the cam bearings?

[doctorpimp]

I don't know...

Is there a specific degree of cam rotation for when the head galleries are fed?

[72pettyblue]

While turning, the hole in the cam bearing will line up for a very brief second to feed the rocker shafts.  You will have turn turn very slowly and when it does line up it will gush oil up top.  Patience will be needed.  It will come out near the back of the head.

[doctorpimp]

While turning, the hole in the cam bearing will line up for a very brief second to feed the rocker shafts.  You will have turn turn very slowly and when it does line up it will gush oil up top.  Patience will be needed.  It will come out near the back of the head.

Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow 

[firefighter3931]

Paul, try rotating the engine slowly while priming as the others have said. The oil holes in the rocker shafts need to be facing down and towards the exhast side of the head....they only go on one way for proper oiling. The #4 cam bearing supplies oil to the top end....the hole must be lined up when the bearing is installed.

Check and see if you're getting oil to the oil pressure sending unit port on the back of the block.



Ron

[doctorpimp]

Paul, try rotating the engine slowly while priming as the others have said. The oil holes in the rocker shafts need to be facing down and towards the exhast side of the head....they only go on one way for proper oiling. The #4 cam bearing supplies oil to the top end....the hole must be lined up when the bearing is installed.

Check and see if you're getting oil to the oil pressure sending unit port on the back of the block.



Ron

Hi Ron,
I am getting tons of oil pressure everywhere else (I don't have a pressure gauge, but I removed the plug that was in the rear port and it shot out like a guyser when I ran the drill.) 
I'll check tomorrow.

Thanks all 

[doctorpimp]

OK, that was a big flinch on my part 
I guess I was just tired yesterday...

I turned the engine over slowly while using the drill and voila oil came to the rockers etc.

Thanks all for the replies 

[firefighter3931]

Sometimes the simple things drive us crazy ! 

Good work Paul ! 



Ron

[Back N Black]

Hey Paul, i'm only 2 streets down from you, so why don't you drop over with that new engine and we can hook her up in my charger and take it for a drive.

[doctorpimp]

Hey that sounds like a great idea  but, who will be the first in the driver's seat?   

Have you shipped your car yet Eldon?
When is your COS?

[Back N Black]

Yep,my car is already there. I'm leaving on Saturday, its going to be sad leaving after being here for 9 years.The next time i log on it will be on the other side.

Take care

Eldon