Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

My truck and parts are in my sig. Ok I have the 370 in there everything is hooked up no leaks and runs ok(atleast with no tune) . But I have this topend valvetrain noise, it sounded like it was lacking oil or not getting any oil. So I pulled the pass side valve cover and i have no oil there at all . I started it up with the valve cover off and still nothing. But my oil pressue is good. I just put a new oil sending unit in it and the oil pressure is reading good at idle. I have a Katech high volume pump and have the red o ring on it that fit tight when I bolted it up. So where do I start??? I did my research before I started this project and now I am stumped. I only have topend noise bottom end is quiet? I did reuse my old lifters if that helps......

Thanks for any help in advance..

Danny

Southern Dixie Rebel

ok im not sure about this i just have some thoughts that came to mind:
1. the heads that are on the engine does the oil lines match up or the seals you have on there blocking the lines.
2. any thing in the oil lines might have to blow them out idk how it wont be easy um yea thats all i got check the other side see if they are getting oil maybe narrow the possibilities i hope i helped

Yogi Bear

There is a small, plastic, dumbell shaped part that goes into a passage on the rear of the block on the driver's side. Maybe this part was left out? Here is some more info with a lousy pic.
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...2&page=1&pp=10

In the last post, Chevracer83 says that leaving this part out will result in no oil to the valvetrain.

Yogi

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

That's a very important $5 part...this page might help:
http://www.automotiverebuilder.com/ar/eb040538.htm

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

I installed a new barbell before I installed the rear cover. I was thinking the same thing to but I am 100 percent sure it's there. I'm going to pop off the driver's side valve cover in a little bit to see if that side is also not getting any oil. I installed the barbell to specs is there anyway that it might have backed out? I was a very tight fit on the install. I used Cometic head gaskets and to answer the question above, is the only place oil drains back down to the pan is down by the lifters? Is that right???Thanks fellas, I have to find out WTF is going on cause it is driving me crazy.

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

Should i have primed the oil pump first??? If so how do u do it?

Yogi Bear

In your first post you say that you have "good" oil pressure. This would indicate that the pump primed itself and is pumping OK. How much pressure do you have?

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

At idle it is the line before 40psi. That truck is running a little ruff cause it is not tuned for the cam and other parts. The idle is not steady but the oil prssure gauge moves as the idle goes up and down. I reved it a couple times and the psi will go up as I give it gas. It will be close to 60 psi.

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

Did I put the right o ring in the pick up to pump tube. It was the red one. I also bought the blue one to compare and the blue was a little loose.

Yogi Bear

Sounds like your pressure is OK. If you had the wrong o-ring you would have zero oil pressure.

Maybe the barbell is in backwards. Did you put the o-ring end toward the back of the block?

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

yes o ring is towards the back of the block.

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

Silly question, but is it possible that there's some assembly lube or something that's clogging up the lifters/push rod oil passages? And I'm assuming that the cam bearings are all properly aligned...

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

I pulled a couple of the pushrods out and they were clean. As for the cam bearings??? I don't know. The engine builder built the short block and installed the cam. I put the heads on and everything else. I know I did my part 100 percent cause I triple checked everything I did and wrote everything down and took some pics too, it took me a month to finally put it all together. But now I second guess myself cause no oil pressure. I got most of my info from here and the how ls1 books.

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

Yea, and the more I think about it, if the cam bearings weren't aligned, the cam probably would have siezed up pretty quickly...

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

could it be the lifters??? that is the only thing I did not replace.

67SS509

iTrader: (22)

I 'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you have probably spun some bearings already. It's about the only thing that fits with the things you have checked during assembly. The reason I say this is because these engines are tricky to assemble. You have got to get the bearings right in the upper and lower position. I have seen experienced engine builders forget this while assembling. It will spin the rods (or some) followed shortly by the mains and then the cam bearings. Being new you will not even hear it knock for some time. If you have to tear it down preserve your evidence of goofed assembly! I hope this is not the problem in your case.

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

Ohhh **** I sure hope this is not the case. Would there be metal shaving in the oil? The oil is clean as hell.

67SS509

iTrader: (22)

Yes, but may not show up right away.

budhayes3

iTrader: (19)

I'd think that you'd definitely see metal shavings, both silver and copper colored I believe....

From the way you describe it, you have pressure, just no flow to the top end?

And it seems like a long shot that the lifters are your problem...if anything I'd think that you'd only experience a problem with one or two of them, seems kinda strange that all 16 would fail at the same time.

67SS509

iTrader: (22)

Yank the oil filter off and cut it open.

Grumpy5.3

iTrader: (14)

It kinda sounds like your cam bearings are not installed right, to me.

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

Yup this is what is happening.

Yogi Bear

This is kinda fuzzy and I could be wrong, but I seem to remember a small block plug (like a miniture freeze plug) in the right oil gallery at the back of the block. It's at about the same height on the block as the passage for the barbell, but on the other side of the block. Maybe that plug was left out.

Can anyone confirm this - or correct me if I am wrong?

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

would the 5.3 be the same? I can check that out on the old motor to see if it has that.

Yogi Bear

Yes, the 5.3 has the same oiling system.

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

I'll check to see if there is a plug.

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

The 1999 5.3 only has the barbell back there and no other hole or plug.

Yogi Bear

Black-Syde

iTrader: (7)

Last Call

iTrader: (4)

I had the exact same problem.. I started my truck without the valve covers on, and there was little or no pressure from the ls6 pump I installed. There would be loud valvetrain noise that would come and go.

I changed the o-ring on the oil pump and it went away.

Here are side by side pics.