Oil pressure issue after distributor install
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: St Charles MO
Oil pressure issue after distributor install
Hi, I replaced my HEI distributor on my 80 tonight with a Mallory HEI.
Everything seemed fine & it fired right up but something weird is going on with my oil pressure now.
After the first 2 seconds of firing it up the oil pressure goes up to 30 PSI, then immediatly goes to 0 and sits there.
I can turn it off, the fire it back up...same results.
I pulled a valve cover and my rockers are dry...so something is indeed wrong.
I didn't install the distributor hold down yet, but don't think that is the problem.
Anyone have any suggestions on what to check?
TIA
Everything seemed fine & it fired right up but something weird is going on with my oil pressure now.
After the first 2 seconds of firing it up the oil pressure goes up to 30 PSI, then immediatly goes to 0 and sits there.
I can turn it off, the fire it back up...same results.
I pulled a valve cover and my rockers are dry...so something is indeed wrong.
I didn't install the distributor hold down yet, but don't think that is the problem.
Anyone have any suggestions on what to check?
TIA
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Always complete assembly before exspecting things to work properly. That hold down needs to be in place. The dist will jump out of place without it disengaging from the pump and could jump time or cause damage to the cam gear.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,924
Likes: 6
so the bolt needs to be tight before running the engine...
interesting concept
probably should tighen the lug nuts on the wheels before doing burnouts with the car as well?
just a guess.....
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I don't know why/how but there is a OIL passage way around the SBC dizzy shaft, that feed oil to one bank of lifters, I found this out on a boat engine, we went to prime the new engine and found just one bank of lifters filled up, the other did not and oil was spraying all over the priming davice...a screwdriver in a drill.....never had the issue on any old Pontiac engines....
on this vette engine, I never bothered, filled it a quart over and fired it right up....but the boat was flat tappet and the guys wanted to prime the pump....
I forget which side had no oil, but I THINK it was driver's side....
now them doing the new intake I noticed the rockers on my driver's side were loud and clacking, so I clamped down the dizzy good and proper, and somehow it affected the sealing and the lifters immediately filled and shut up...go figger.....
on this vette engine, I never bothered, filled it a quart over and fired it right up....but the boat was flat tappet and the guys wanted to prime the pump....
I forget which side had no oil, but I THINK it was driver's side....
now them doing the new intake I noticed the rockers on my driver's side were loud and clacking, so I clamped down the dizzy good and proper, and somehow it affected the sealing and the lifters immediately filled and shut up...go figger.....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: St Charles MO
Thanks for the replys....I didn't install the distributor hold down, becuase it was kinda a PITA to get off & I wanted to make sure timing wasn't a tooth off & have to pull it out again....plus I cleaned it up and repainted, so I was waiting for it to dry. Since it fired right up, I guess it is on correctly....this was only for testing, I will set timing properly after everything is back to normal (oil pressure)
The base of the distributor was still tight against the intake manifold, so that is why I didn't think the hold down was the issue.
The valve cover I pulled off was the drivers side, which was dry.
I'll put the hold down on tonight & give it another try.....if still no pressure, I guess I reinstall my old distributor (with hold down) and see if oil pressure returns.
Thanks again.
The base of the distributor was still tight against the intake manifold, so that is why I didn't think the hold down was the issue.
The valve cover I pulled off was the drivers side, which was dry.
I'll put the hold down on tonight & give it another try.....if still no pressure, I guess I reinstall my old distributor (with hold down) and see if oil pressure returns.
Thanks again.
Last edited by Ditmeion; Apr 15, 2008 at 12:08 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 6
From: Charles Town WV
Thanks for the replys....I didn't install the distributor hold down, becuase it was kinda a PITA to get off & I wanted to make sure timing wasn't a tooth off & have to pull it out again....plus I cleaned it up and repainted, so I was waiting for it to dry. Since it fired right up, I guess it is on correctly....this was only for testing, I will set timing properly after everything is back to normal (oil pressure)
The base of the distributor was still tight against the intake manifold, so that is why I didn't think the hold down was the issue.
The valve cover I pulled off was the drivers side, which was dry.
I'll put the hold down on tonight & give it another try.....if still no pressure, I guess I reinstall my old distributor (with hold down) and see if oil pressure returns.
Thanks again.
The base of the distributor was still tight against the intake manifold, so that is why I didn't think the hold down was the issue.
The valve cover I pulled off was the drivers side, which was dry.
I'll put the hold down on tonight & give it another try.....if still no pressure, I guess I reinstall my old distributor (with hold down) and see if oil pressure returns.
Thanks again.
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: St Charles MO
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 1
From: St Charles MO
OK...lesson learned
Removed distributor & primed oil pump to 40 psi with electric drill....reinstalled distributor WITH hold down, fired right up with 40 psi...motor sounds fine, so no apparent damage.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
Removed distributor & primed oil pump to 40 psi with electric drill....reinstalled distributor WITH hold down, fired right up with 40 psi...motor sounds fine, so no apparent damage.
Thanks again for everyone's help.
