Oil pressure/ timing mark

[J-440]

 Breaking in a 440 and I know that the rocker assembly gets lubed from the #4 cam bearing/oil channel.  I have turned over the motor several times and still do not see oil getting to the valvetrain.  Going to take the distrib out to prime it but I need a question answered.  What timing mark on the damper exposes the oil passage from the #4 journal so that I can start seeing some oil? Yes the oil gauge is properly hooked up and working, I just got no pressure.  Thanks again.

[justcruisin]

Can't remember for sure but I think the heads are oiled for 20 or 30 degrees over TDC when 6 and 8 are firing, one head at a time, can't remember if 6 is left and 8 is right or the other way around. So the damper will read 270 for 8 and 0 for 6, just make sure it is on the compression stroke. Regardless if this is correct or not you should see oil with cranking on the starter. If you turn the motor slowly for 720 degrees while priming the pump you will see oil at both heads if all OK.

[A383Wing]

make sure your oil holes in the bottom of the rocker shafts are towards the exhaust side, not the intake side

Bryan

[J-440]

 Yeah I did that.  What's the maximum time for turning your motor over without doing damage?  Like 20 seconds? Everything was pre-lubed during assembly but I really need that timing degree number for when that #4 bearing hole is exposed.  Or am I hearing some wrong info?  Thanks again guys.

[A383Wing]

pre-lube it with drill motor, put dist back in and fire it up....it will get oil up there right away

Bryan

[justcruisin]

You don't need to have the hole lined up to check oiling, if you prime the pump while turning the motor with a bar on the crank bolt you will get plenty of oil pressure to feed the rocker shaft, you will need someone to prime the pump while you turn the motor. With the motor being turned slowly and around 70-80 psi you will soon see at what point it oils. Or try the engine positions outlined above.

[justcruisin]

Also - not a good idea to crank the hell out of a engine on a fresh rebuild prior to first start up. You will wipe off plenty of lube from the cam.

[J-440]

 Yeah, I actually bumped it several times for about 4 seconds each.  Believe me, all of that hard work  I do not want a jacked up motor!!  So it's a 2 man job then huh?  Ok, gonna get the wife on a breaker bar and I'll handle the drill motor...think she'll bitch much?

[justcruisin]

If she does you will have to remind her of the things that are really important in life, namely MOPARS. Remember to turn the pump anticlock, it doesn't need to be turned fast, I find a hand crank sufficient.

[Cooter]

Without Spinning the oil pump with a high speed drill, you will never build oil pressure. I've seen where folks will install a new oil pump and forget to prime it (Grease inside), and fire up the engine and never build oil pressure.

[J-440]

 So if I can prime the pump with a drill without the cam being lined up, how does the oil get up to the valvetrain?  Is there an alternate route? 

[A383Wing]

the oil will get up to valve train as soon as it starts...providing you primed it first with drill motor.....

Bryan

[justcruisin]

So if I can prime the pump with a drill without the cam being lined up, how does the oil get up to the valvetrain?  Is there an alternate route?  

No alternative route, the holes in the cam must line up to get oil to the heads. Make sure you have pressure at the gauge while priming before you bother turning the engine, once the engine is turning with the power bar the holes will periodically line up and shoot oil up to the rocker shaft.

[J-440]

 Aight then...I appreciate all the help guys.  Ya'll have a great weekend.