Topic: Oil Pressure

[Yellow r code]

I'm trying to prime my motor and I'm not getting any oil to the rocker arms. Yes, I'm turning the drill counter clock wise. I removed the adapter to check the gasket and it's correct. I removed the oil filter and turned the drill counter clock wise and it pumped oil out the adapter, Next is to change the filter. If that doesn't work, I'm lost any help. Yes the drill has torque on it well turning. Thanks

[J_Speegle]

Been a while since I built a FE. Had a similar issue with a small block (no oil to the top of the engine) where they left out one of the oil gallery plugs at the rear of the block in the lifter valley. Clue was that during priming the engine oil system like you there was a lot of oil flowing out of the lifter valley visible looking down the distributor hole when I turned the oil pump with the drill

[Mike_B_SVT]

I'm trying to prime my motor and I'm not getting any oil to the rocker arms. Yes, I'm turning the drill counter clock wise. I removed the adapter to check the gasket and it's correct. I removed the oil filter and turned the drill counter clock wise and it pumped oil out the adapter, Next is to change the filter. If that doesn't work, I'm lost any help. Yes the drill has torque on it well turning. Thanks

I believe the rockers are fed oil through a specific rocker mounting bolt.  Double check that the correct rocker bolts are in the appropriate location.

[Bob Gaines]

I believe the rockers are fed oil through a specific rocker mounting bolt.  Double check that the correct rocker bolts are in the appropriate location.

+1

[rhjanes]

IIRC the third bolt from the front is hollow to allow the oil into the rocker shaft.  I think that's on the passenger side.  So same on the drivers or is it the second from the front?

[Bob Gaines]

IIRC the third bolt from the front is hollow to allow the oil into the rocker shaft.  I think that's on the passenger side.  So same on the drivers or is it the second from the front?

The bolt isn't hollow but has a contoured length so that the oil passes up the shaft.

[rhjanes]

The bolt isn't hollow but has a contoured length so that the oil passes up the shaft.

Thanks for the refresher Bob!  It's only been since the early 1990's that I had mine apart. 

[70cj428]

There are a  few things on an FE that can keep oil from reaching the rockers, the most common is leaving the galley plug behind the distributor out. I'd remove the valve covers and rocker assys then pre oil the engine to see if your getting oil to the heads, it will come pouring out a passage right next to the second or third rocker shaft bolt, (depending on which side of the engine), remember the drill spins counterclockwise. If not, use just the shaft of the pre oiler (some have an aluminum guide that drops in the distributer hole) and pre oil the motor while looking between the pre oiler shaft and the block down inside the distributor hole. If you see oil pouring out someone forgot the
 galley plug... 

[Yellow r code]

The plug is in behind the distributor. I'm get oil to the rockers, not enough to oil down the rocker and valves. The oil come out just enough to get the push rods wet. I've been priming this motor for 3 days now. I've taken the oil filter off and changed it, made sure the oil filter adapter gasket was on right. Removed the rocker assemble cleaned it. Check the oil coming out of the head and it is. There isn't enough oil coming out of the rockers to oil everything down. Someone said there is a plug next to the cam behind the timing chain?  Any more help??? Thanks for the info.

[Bob Gaines]

The plug is in behind the distributor. I'm get oil to the rockers, not enough to oil down the rocker and valves. The oil come out just enough to get the push rods wet. I've been priming this motor for 3 days now. I've taken the oil filter off and changed it, made sure the oil filter adapter gasket was on right. Removed the rocker assemble cleaned it. Check the oil coming out of the head and it is. There isn't enough oil coming out of the rockers to oil everything down. Someone said there is a plug next to the cam behind the timing chain?  Any more help??? Thanks for the info.

Did you just have this engine rebuilt or is is it a engine with miles on it ? Some of the other possible things to check will require a engine tear down. Before you get to that point and given the things you have check so far and your rocker flow description the oil pump should be replaced and the passage from the oil pump to the filter adapter checked for blockage (never seen that one ) to rule out those being a culprit IMO.