Thread: 454 dilemma

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Ok
Hi all, new on here.

Have a '64 C10 running a 454 running 396/427 heads.. Bought that way

I had an issue where I was not getting oil up top....oil pressure was good.. Just wasn't making it up top.

Someone said they thought it was a cam bearing.. Might have moved... Preventing oil from getting up top????


Anyhow... Ended up changing out lifters... Sure enough... Fired it up... Got oil flowing up top... All was good.

Now...was running it.... After it was good and warm.. Coming to a stop light... Oil pressure drops way down... I throw it into neutral and It immediately climbs back up

Haven't pulled the covers.. But thinking not getting oil again.. Lifters got somewhat noisey ....

Upon start up from cold... All seems good idles( best it can with the cam it has).... Sounds fine, oil pressure good .....once warm different story.
??????

Thanks in advance

Welcome to CHR! I'm no expert, but what you're describing sounds to me like you've got a flat tappet cam and you're losing lobes on the cam, another victim of the zinc and phosphorus additives being stripped from our oils back when catalytic converters became mandatory equipment. I hope that I'm wrong, and perhaps one of the other guys will have a better idea on what you're dealing with.

Originally Posted by rspears

Welcome to CHR! I'm no expert, but what you're describing sounds to me like you've got a flat tappet cam and you're losing lobes on the cam, another victim of the zinc and phosphorus additives being stripped from our oils back when catalytic converters became mandatory equipment. I hope that I'm wrong, and perhaps one of the other guys will have a better idea on what you're dealing with.

Ok.... So your thinking it may be the cam, believe me I'm far far from expert myself, one thought I did have was the cam as well, because of how it would seem to just run different before the oil pressure drop.

Well here are a couple pics........just cause.....we love putting up pics of our rides. Lol





Here is one of my '70 Cougar Eliminator Clone

Ok thank you.... I'll have my guy check on that

All other suggestions please chime in as well thank you

image.jpgimage.jpg

I agree with Roger. It sounds like your cam is eating lifters. If it is it will be a good idea to pull the engine and check bearings at minimum. the metal shavings in the oil can wipe the entire thing out. BBC's were known to eat lifters with flat tappet cams from my experiences.

Thanks for reply
Cam was pulled and inspected...I think we pretty much have it narrowed down to either.. Possibly wrong pushrods since I've been told there is an intake and exhaust and they are different sizes... Or could be rockers adj improperly... Perhaps too tight