I NEED HELP BEFORE I KILL SOMEONE.

[70 RAG TOP]

I have a  recently rebuilt engine(383) and I tried to prime the oilpump because I was all ready to finally start it.  I was able to get 50psi oil pressure on my gauge but there is NO oil getting to the top end(the rocker arms are dry and even when I took off the rocker arm assembly, no oil is coming out of the 2 bolt holes that supply the tube that the arms ride on).  I had a guy who has been around mopars for a long time come over and help me.  He suggested that maybe the rebuilder put the center cam bearing in wrong so that the oil holes were not lined up properly.  I am at the end of my sanity rope!  I thought that this rebuilder knew what he was doing because he has been in business for a while, but I am begining to wonder.  He said that he cleaned the block and reworked the heads/valves but when I had the rocker arm assbly off, the underside of the arms still had black oil sludge on them.  Can anyone give me some input on what the cause of my lack of oil pressure  could be.

Hoping for some thread of good news!

thanks
Mike

[ChallengerHK]

I'm going to let people more knowledgeable than me tackle this one, but I wanted to say "Take some deep breaths and let it sit while you're waiting."

[brads70]

I can't offer any " expert advice" either but good thing you found it now..... instead of after with a bunch of " blue" broken parts!

[72cudamaan]

Are you using a primer? U need to turn the engine over by hand
 so that the oil galley holes will line up. Then, you should get oil up to the top.

[Skunkworks Challenger]

You only get oil to the top when the hole in the cam and the hole in the cam bearing align up. This happens twice on a cam revolution.  PK

[ChallengerHK]

So the primer he's talking about is something that only spins the pump?

[Skunkworks Challenger]

That is correct.  Try moving your crank while the primer is going.  Of course this will mess up your top dead center and you will have to time all over again but will prove if you have oil flow to the top of the engine.  PK

[Chryco Psycho]

There are 2 oil passages up to the rocker shaft one in the second stand & 1 in the 4th , if the left head is installed on the right side the unused passage is often still blocked from non use & sludge build up , this port has to be cleaned out or oil will not reach the shaft , if you remove the rockers you can slide a wire / coathanger vitually all the way down the to cam if ti is clear

[joelson6]

Are you using a primer? U need to turn the engine over by hand
 so that the oil galley holes will line up. Then, you should get oil up to the top.

 

have someone turn the crank with an socket wrench while your priming, you'll know

when the holes line up and you'll see how fast the oil gets there

[72rtchallenger]

 

 

have someone turn the crank with an socket wrench while your priming, you'll know

when the holes line up and you'll see how fast the oil gets there

[mopar12372]

are the rocker shaft holes lined up with the oil holes in the shaft stands?

[quapman]

Don't be insulted, but are you rotating the shaft in the right direction? I believe counter-clockwise is the big block way.

[mopar12372]

the only thing that matters when it comes to crank shaft rotation is when dropping the distributer in / cam gear for fireing order .
it wont hurt it to rotate the engine eather direction all that matters is that you have full knowlege of oil getting to the top  of the engine.

[70 RAG TOP]

Thanks everyone for your help!!  I turned the engine over(with breaker bar) an inch or so at a time while using a drill and primer shaft and low and behold oil came shooting up through the right side rocker shaft mount.  I am so happy!!  Haven't had time to do the left side yet . but will soon.  Thanks again

Mike

[PlumCraZRT]

Thanks everyone for your help!!  I turned the engine over(with breaker bar) an inch or so at a time while using a drill and primer shaft and low and behold oil came shooting up through the right side rocker shaft mount.  I am so happy!!  Haven't had time to do the left side yet . but will soon.  Thanks again

Mike

Good!  Now please don't kill anyone.