Help with oil pump problem on 1969 SBC 350 Engine - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

jcloud6 · 01-07-2011, 08:27 PM

I picked up this 1969 SBC 350 from a guy for less than a hundred bucks. According to the engine suffix code this came with 300 factory horse power. He had block dipped, bored .30 over, new freeze plugs, cam bearing, pistons, crank, cam and oil pump. He sold this engine because he cannot figure out why the oil is not being pumped up to the valve train.

Q. Could the cam bearing be install wrong.
Q. Could there be a difference in oil pump/shaft
Q. Could there be a difference in distributors
Q How should I trouble shoot this to determine the problem

Tx Firefighter · 01-07-2011, 08:34 PM

Put a priming tool down in the engine and spin the piss out of it with a drill to see what you've got to deal with. Screw a gauge into the port and see what kind of pressure you develop and watch the rockers to see if they start to dribble.

Big thing here though. I have seen a lot of times where fellows can't get oiling to both sides of the valvetrain. The issue is the priming tool. You must use a tool that has a housing like a distributor. The ones that are just shafts without housings won't ever work. I don't even know why they still sell the things. The housing is critical in that it completes an oil passage that allows the oil to cross over to the other side of the engine. Lacking that, the oil just spills down into the block and doesn't make it to the rockers.

Another frequent issue is a little tiny oil galley plug that goes into the block above the rear main bearing cap. The machine shop removes them during their work and often don't install another one afterward. This causes loss of oil pressure through the system.

James McClure · 01-08-2011, 10:01 AM

Go ahead and laugh at this "redneck" approach to priming the lubrication system. I too an old HEI distributor ground the teeth off the cam gear and cut the rotor mount off the top to chuck up a drill, works great and it was "free". I have found that when folks change cams they don't let the lifters soak in oil for a while to fill with oil. What I have done when I rebuilt a SB was to build the bottom and get the pan on it and put some oil in the sump and spin her up with the lifters out (cam in) to check for oil flow, then drop in the "soaked lifters" and spin her up again then finish assembly. Just my 2 cents, jim

85gmcguy · 01-08-2011, 05:06 PM

You need this:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/62205/10002/-1

NOT this:

http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr.+Gasket/720/3795G/10002/-1

to make sure the valve train is getting oil.

01-07-2011, 08:27 PM	#1
jcloud6 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Clarksville, TN Posts: 37	Help with oil pump problem on 1969 SBC 350 Engine I picked up this 1969 SBC 350 from a guy for less than a hundred bucks. According to the engine suffix code this came with 300 factory horse power. He had block dipped, bored .30 over, new freeze plugs, cam bearing, pistons, crank, cam and oil pump. He sold this engine because he cannot figure out why the oil is not being pumped up to the valve train. Q. Could the cam bearing be install wrong. Q. Could there be a difference in oil pump/shaft Q. Could there be a difference in distributors Q How should I trouble shoot this to determine the problem

01-07-2011, 08:34 PM	#2
Tx Firefighter Watch out for your cornhole ! Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Azle, Texas Posts: 14,162	Re: Help with oil pump problem on 1969 SBC 350 Engine Put a priming tool down in the engine and spin the piss out of it with a drill to see what you've got to deal with. Screw a gauge into the port and see what kind of pressure you develop and watch the rockers to see if they start to dribble. Big thing here though. I have seen a lot of times where fellows can't get oiling to both sides of the valvetrain. The issue is the priming tool. You must use a tool that has a housing like a distributor. The ones that are just shafts without housings won't ever work. I don't even know why they still sell the things. The housing is critical in that it completes an oil passage that allows the oil to cross over to the other side of the engine. Lacking that, the oil just spills down into the block and doesn't make it to the rockers. Another frequent issue is a little tiny oil galley plug that goes into the block above the rear main bearing cap. The machine shop removes them during their work and often don't install another one afterward. This causes loss of oil pressure through the system. __________________ I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin Last edited by Tx Firefighter; 01-07-2011 at 08:36 PM.

01-08-2011, 10:01 AM	#3
James McClure One shot, one kill. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Saratoga Springs NY Posts: 859	Re: Help with oil pump problem on 1969 SBC 350 Engine Go ahead and laugh at this "redneck" approach to priming the lubrication system. I too an old HEI distributor ground the teeth off the cam gear and cut the rotor mount off the top to chuck up a drill, works great and it was "free". I have found that when folks change cams they don't let the lifters soak in oil for a while to fill with oil. What I have done when I rebuilt a SB was to build the bottom and get the pan on it and put some oil in the sump and spin her up with the lifters out (cam in) to check for oil flow, then drop in the "soaked lifters" and spin her up again then finish assembly. Just my 2 cents, jim __________________ 1984 K20 350M engine with 465,000 miles. Well, it's finally done!! Almost 2 years of work, but it was really worth the effort. Little stuff left to do is mount winch, wet sand & buff out and build belly pan\running boards. Body work takes lots and LOTS of beer!!!! God, Guts and Guns made America and God, Guts and Guns will preserve it! The worst thing you could do is get into my sights, but that don't matter, you'll never know it, cause you'll never hear the shotJim or Paladin whichever you choose.

01-08-2011, 05:06 PM	#4
85gmcguy Plays with trucks Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 433	Re: Help with oil pump problem on 1969 SBC 350 Engine You need this: http://www.jegs.com/i/Moroso/710/62205/10002/-1 NOT this: http://www.jegs.com/i/Mr.+Gasket/720/3795G/10002/-1 to make sure the valve train is getting oil. __________________ Gary My Dad's Old Truck 1985



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