Thread: No oil for one head

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I have a 350 small block chevy that I recently started after long term storage. I removed the distributer and used a pre-oil tool with electric drill. I also squirted some oil into cylinders before starting. The engine did start but when I removed the valve cover on the passenger side with the engine running to adjust solid lifters, there was no new oil arriving so I shut the engine down. Oil pressure was normal. I have not looked under the other valve cover yet. I will do this tomorrow when its warmer.

This situation did happen to me once before, when I installed the engine for the first time. No oil flow on the passenger side valve train. I was sick thinking I would have to tear it apart. There was a happy ending though. When installing distributer, I deviated from the factory postion to decrease the angle of the tach cable (I moved the spark plug wires on the cap and then rotated the distributer to restore timing. This avoided an acute angle on the tach cable). I didn't think it would create a problem but it cut off oil to one side of the engine. When looking at the distributer shaft, there was an ring at the height of the valley passage ways but this ring was not 360 degress around the distibuter. Rotating the distributer caused the distriber to cut off the oil. When I undid my "clever" way of decreasing the tach cable angle, oil was restored. When at the Ecklers web site, I saw a right angle converter for the tach cable to avoid sharp bends.

The engine ran fine and 30,000 miles later put it into storage. Now, after removing the distributer to pre-oil it, I have the same problem! I was careful to put the distributer back to the same postition.

Can anyone suggest any other explanation for my lack of oil on one side of the engine?

Originally posted by 350
I have a 350 small block chevy that I recently started after long term storage. I removed the distributer and used a pre-oil tool with electric drill. I also squirted some oil into cylinders before starting. The engine did start but when I removed the valve cover on the passenger side with the engine running to adjust solid lifters, there was no new oil arriving so I shut the engine down. Oil pressure was normal. I have not looked under the other valve cover yet. I will do this tomorrow when its warmer.

This situation did happen to me once before, when I installed the engine for the first time. No oil flow on the passenger side valve train. I was sick thinking I would have to tear it apart. There was a happy ending though. When installing distributer, I deviated from the factory postion to decrease the angle of the tach cable (I moved the spark plug wires on the cap and then rotated the distributer to restore timing. This avoided an acute angle on the tach cable). I didn't think it would create a problem but it cut off oil to one side of the engine. When looking at the distributer shaft, there was an ring at the height of the valley passage ways but this ring was not 360 degress around the distibuter. Rotating the distributer caused the distriber to cut off the oil. When I undid my "clever" way of decreasing the tach cable angle, oil was restored. When at the Ecklers web site, I saw a right angle converter for the tach cable to avoid sharp bends.

The engine ran fine and 30,000 miles later put it into storage. Now, after removing the distributer to pre-oil it, I have the same problem! I was careful to put the distributer back to the same postition.

Can anyone suggest any other explanation for my lack of oil on one side of the engine?

you said you have solid lifters? did you put the restrictors in the oil gallery for the solid lifters?

Originally posted by DennyW
Mike, he may be doing like the other guy was. Without the distributor in, it won't direct oil to the other side. Heres a link to the other thread.
http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...threadid=11372

read a little closer denny, he has his motor running. trying to adj his valves.

Originally posted by DennyW
Oh, I'm sorry, I read right over that, and it didn't click, hahaha.

where is the oil?

Thanks for the link to the other discussion. At the end of the descusion he bought a pre-oiler and then had plenty of oil. In my case, I also pre-oiled with a real pre-oiler, and not a screwdriver. After starting my engine and running it for a couple of minutes, I still don't see oil and shut it down to avoid damage.

The car was stored in a semi heated garage for 13 years and was running fine when parked.

From another thread with someone with a similar problem,

It is very common in small blocks. Just give the tops of the valves/rocker arms and pushrod seats a squirt from an oil can and fire it up. You will more oil squirting around than you know what to do with, after about three-four minutes of running.

I am very nervous about letting it run four minutes with no oil. What do you guys think?

If it was a new or rebuilt engine, I would assume the gallery plug was missing. I have changed the oil every 3000 miles and there is absolutely no sludge visible on the head.

Originally posted by 350
The car was stored in a semi heated garage for 13 years and was running fine when parked.

From another thread with someone with a similar problem,



I am very nervous about letting it run four minutes with no oil. What do you guys think?

If it was a new or rebuilt engine, I would assume the gallery plug was missing. I have changed the oil every 3000 miles and there is absolutely no sludge visible on the head.

maybe somebody put the restrictors in the oil gallery for the solid lifters and has it to restricted, i guess you cant get to it to check that?

I couldn't figure out any reason why I didn't have oil. I lubed the rockarms and valve springs, crossed my fingers and started it up. About 4 minutes later oil arrived at the rocker arms! Its been running about 20 minutes now with good oiling. Thanks for the replys.

Originally posted by 350
I couldn't figure out any reason why I didn't have oil. I lubed the rockarms and valve springs, crossed my fingers and started it up. About 4 minutes later oil arrived at the rocker arms! Its been running about 20 minutes now with good oiling. Thanks for the replys.

way to go