Oil Pressure Problems

[NSdartSW]

I got my 360 running fairly well minus the awful exhaust leak, I’m still trying to get tti headpipes for it, but I’ve ran into yet another problem. For a while off a cold start it would build like 35-40 psi and then drop down to like 20ish which I was ok with, it wasn’t the end of the world. But the last few times my gauge would just read 0 or practically there. I thought it was cause there was some air in line so I bleed it but with it completely off the gauge it was just a slow drip from the line. When it was running it wasn’t running bad or anything, it didn’t seem like it was running on no oil pressure. I tried to manually prime the oil system but no matter what I do nothing can get the oil pump shaft moving. I’m not sure what’s going on, maybe the pumps locked up or something? Looking for help from more experienced mind. Thank you

 

[Murray]

On a running engine- no need to prime. Attach a good mechanical gauge to engine to get an accurate reading. Never rely on factory gauges.

 

[NSdartSW]

I put in a little 3 gauge pod and that oil gauge is telling me 0. The set was on the cheaper side.

 

[NSdartSW]

I pulled the distributor out and turned the engine over and all the gears look good they mesh correctly and spin good but I still see no oil coming up the push rods. So clogged pump or pick up?

 

[Rocket]

Assuming you have checked that there is oil in the pan, and tried another oil gauge, you can try removing the oil filter and coil wire (so engine will not start). Get a container you can catch oil iron from the block oil outlet on the block and some cardboard or other items on the ground to catch any oil spillage for the next step. While holding the container by the oil outlet on the block, have someone crank the engine over. If no oil comes out there is likely a blockage at the pickup or the pump is not turning or not working. If oil does come out, your filter may be bad or something up stream is the issue.

Another test is to pull the distributed and remove the distributor drive shaft using a large flat head screw driver and a long magnet to pull it out. Is the end of the drive shaft in good shape with good embed on the end? If that is spinning the pump then the pump or pickup screen or filter could be the issue.

 

[NSdartSW]

I didn’t get a chance to work on it till today but I pulled off the oil filter and turned it over and oil did come out of one of the openings on the block, should it be all or is that normal. I have some new starter problem now so I have to figure that out and see if a new filter helps with the oil pressure.

 

[NSdartSW]

The starter skipping was an easy fix the small wires were just loose but it still isn’t building pressure looks like nothing is coming up the pushrods. So the oil galleys clogged?

 

[OLDSTYLE]

la or magnum block ? la the pushrods are solid, no hole they oil through the rocker shafts. magnum they oil through the pushrods

 

[NSdartSW]

la or magnum block ? la the pushrods are solid, no hole they oil through the rocker shafts. magnum they oil through the pushrods

La block but my pushrods do have holes?

 

[NSdartSW]

Sorry it’s not in so cal and I’m not thinking, push rods do not have holes.

 

[NSdartSW]

So is that a magnum rocker shaft?

 

[NC Engine Builder]

No, its LA

 

[NC Engine Builder]

And the oil just sorta splashes around up there, after being pumped into the rocker shaft through a hole in the rocker stand. The pushrods get indirect oiling through those holes to the pushrods

 

[NSdartSW]

Ok thank you the oil galleys are full of some weird gooified oil mix so I think I’ve found my problem. Still gonna drop the pan and clean the screen and everything.