No oil from passenger side rockers?

jrstock · 04-03-2016, 07:26 PM

Recently rebuilt SBC. When priming the engine the drivers side rocker arms do get oil and the engine builds oil pressure. However all 8 passenger rockers are not oiling. There are no oil restrictors in the block.

The camshaft oil plugs at the back of the block have been backed off to ensure they are not restricting flow. When the rear passenger oil plug is completely removed plenty of oil does flow when the motor is primed.

Does anyone have any ideas or experiences with this?

Could the oil groove in the priming tool be misaligned? The oil priming tool is the type that simulates the distributor and has a oil groove at the bottom of the tool. Could the the oil priming tool not be properly aligned and thus the oil groove is too deep or high in the block?

Thanks for your help in advance.

MAURICE BLENDHEIM · 04-03-2016, 07:48 PM

Did you replace the plugs behind the cam sprocket? Where are you taking the pressure reading from? MB.

randy wilson · 04-03-2016, 08:27 PM

I experienced it once on a 355 Wissota B Mod motor. I primed it and primed it. Finally gave up, poured STP over the rockers, and told him to run it. Oiled fine. Must have been the priming tool. Don't know if that's your deal, but worked for me.

jrstock · 04-03-2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAURICE BLENDHEIM

Did you replace the plugs behind the cam sprocket? Where are you taking the pressure reading from? MB.

I have not replaced the plugs behind the cam timing belt gear. Pressure readings are being taken at the oil pressure port at the top of the block next to the distributor.

Joe Schweigert · 04-04-2016, 12:42 AM

Some of he Prime tools will not align with the oil holes causing a bleed off just take a measurement

cad · 04-04-2016, 04:36 AM

Rotate the engine/crankshaft while priming. Happened to us a couple times.
Also what Joe said...if the prime tool's shaft is not "blocking" the correct oil passages, it wont prime that side.
You will be fine when you drop the distributor in.

Clark

Mike Taylor 3601 · 04-04-2016, 08:56 AM

You can take rear oil galley plug out and see if priming tool is lined up with oil galley,I say it is out of line or doesn't fit the hole tight enough and is leaking out there.
Mike Taylor 3601

Adger Smith · 04-04-2016, 09:38 AM

Some of the older cast iron base distributors did not have a full circle oil band machined around them and you had to be careful how you "Clocked " the distributor to get the oil slot to line up with the galley.
I bet there are some more "Ole Gear Heads" that remember those days.

STK1217 · 04-04-2016, 08:05 PM

Had the same thing happen to me last week, The priming tool was .070 smaller in diameter than a stock distributor where it fits into the galley, oil on left side only.

Mario

voltdr · 04-04-2016, 09:01 PM

Not sure what type of priming tool you have. It needs to look like a distributor at the bottom (where it engages the oil pump). I use an old distributor with upper portion cut-off. If yours does not look like a distributor at the bottom, it will not oil both sides of the motor.
Dan

04-03-2016, 07:26 PM	#1
jrstock Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Posts: 16 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No oil from passenger side rockers? Recently rebuilt SBC. When priming the engine the drivers side rocker arms do get oil and the engine builds oil pressure. However all 8 passenger rockers are not oiling. There are no oil restrictors in the block. The camshaft oil plugs at the back of the block have been backed off to ensure they are not restricting flow. When the rear passenger oil plug is completely removed plenty of oil does flow when the motor is primed. Does anyone have any ideas or experiences with this? Could the oil groove in the priming tool be misaligned? The oil priming tool is the type that simulates the distributor and has a oil groove at the bottom of the tool. Could the the oil priming tool not be properly aligned and thus the oil groove is too deep or high in the block? Thanks for your help in advance.

04-03-2016, 07:48 PM	#2
MAURICE BLENDHEIM Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Langley (no igloos), British Columbia, Canada Posts: 565 Likes: 305 Liked 264 Times in 85 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? Did you replace the plugs behind the cam sprocket? Where are you taking the pressure reading from? MB.

04-03-2016, 08:27 PM	#3
randy wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N/A Posts: 882 Likes: 0 Liked 22 Times in 22 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? I experienced it once on a 355 Wissota B Mod motor. I primed it and primed it. Finally gave up, poured STP over the rockers, and told him to run it. Oiled fine. Must have been the priming tool. Don't know if that's your deal, but worked for me. __________________ don,t have one

04-04-2016, 12:42 AM	#5
Joe Schweigert Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ontario, calif Posts: 211 Likes: 61 Liked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? Some of he Prime tools will not align with the oil holes causing a bleed off just take a measurement __________________ Joe Schweigert 751 SS

04-04-2016, 04:36 AM	#6
cad Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 691 Likes: 188 Liked 87 Times in 48 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? Rotate the engine/crankshaft while priming. Happened to us a couple times. Also what Joe said...if the prime tool's shaft is not "blocking" the correct oil passages, it wont prime that side. You will be fine when you drop the distributor in. Clark

04-04-2016, 08:56 AM	#7
Mike Taylor 3601 VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Somerset,Ky Posts: 1,350 Likes: 298 Liked 248 Times in 87 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? You can take rear oil galley plug out and see if priming tool is lined up with oil galley,I say it is out of line or doesn't fit the hole tight enough and is leaking out there. Mike Taylor 3601

04-04-2016, 09:38 AM	#8
Adger Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Texarkana Ark/TX Posts: 2,446 Likes: 575 Liked 880 Times in 311 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? Some of the older cast iron base distributors did not have a full circle oil band machined around them and you had to be careful how you "Clocked " the distributor to get the oil slot to line up with the galley. I bet there are some more "Ole Gear Heads" that remember those days. __________________ Adger Smith (Former SS)

04-04-2016, 08:05 PM	#9
STK1217 Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 136 Likes: 43 Liked 10 Times in 7 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? Had the same thing happen to me last week, The priming tool was .070 smaller in diameter than a stock distributor where it fits into the galley, oil on left side only. Mario

04-04-2016, 09:01 PM	#10
voltdr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 705 Likes: 77 Liked 97 Times in 50 Posts	Re: No oil from passenger side rockers? Not sure what type of priming tool you have. It needs to look like a distributor at the bottom (where it engages the oil pump). I use an old distributor with upper portion cut-off. If yours does not look like a distributor at the bottom, it will not oil both sides of the motor. Dan