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Old Dec 8, 2021 | 11:45 PM
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Default Pushrod flow?

I recently rebuilt my motor and upgraded everything.

Car is making some valve noise, probably only 300 miles since rebuild. Dual springs, new pushrods, rebuilt trunnion, new lifters.

Popped one valve cover off and only one push rod is spraying oil, spraying all the way to my quad two feet past the fender.

Is it normal for only one to spray? Should I dive into this more?
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by b_907
Should I dive into this more?
Absolutely!!

EVERY pushrod should be providing oil to the rocker arm trunnions.
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 01:02 PM
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Whenever I rebuild a Chevy V8, I always blow out each pushrod with compressed air, using a rubber tipped nozzle. Then I hold them up to a bright light, and carefully look thru each one to ensure they're clear. Oil doesn't have to squirt out 3 feet on every pushrod. But every one should have oil, at least oozing out. The fact you have 1 really pumping oil makes me worry that others aren't flowing, and all the oil is venting thru that one lifter......
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 05:33 PM
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Originally Posted by grinder11
Whenever I rebuild a Chevy V8, I always blow out each pushrod with compressed air, using a rubber tipped nozzle. Then I hold them up to a bright light, and carefully look thru each one to ensure they're clear. Oil doesn't have to squirt out 3 feet on every pushrod. But every one should have oil, at least oozing out. The fact you have 1 really pumping oil makes me worry that others aren't flowing, and all the oil is venting thru that one lifter......
I just wonder if they clogged after initial start, considering everything was brand new, aside from block.

I hope I’m not too far gone 😢
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 09:07 PM
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Did you replace the cam too? If so, did you measure what size push rods you needed and then check the sweep pattern from rockers on the valve tips?
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 10:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Cutlassmaster
Did you replace the cam too? If so, did you measure what size push rods you needed and then check the sweep pattern from rockers on the valve tips?
I did replace them cam. Used the Texas speed measuring rod with the Exhaust open/ intake closed method.

Took 7.400 with a small amount of preload.

I'll check sweep when I pull these things off.

Are you implying that if my length is a little off, oil won't come out of the push rod?
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 10:54 PM
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A little off should not affect flow enough to notice. I know if things are not measured right you will get more noise. Just asking to get a better picture of what you have done so that others can give possible things to look at too.
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Old Dec 9, 2021 | 11:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Cutlassmaster
A little off should not affect flow enough to notice. I know if things are not measured right you will get more noise. Just asking to get a better picture of what you have done so that others can give possible things to look at too.

Makes sense! Thanks!

Im hoping I pop the rods out and see a blantant blockage or something that clearly shows the issue here.
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Old Dec 10, 2021 | 07:17 AM
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At idle, the LS platform doesn’t move a lot of oil to the top end. I’m very surprised that you have one pushrod spraying oil at idle. They usually just lightly flow oil at idle, not spray. As rpm increases, volume increases (as does pressure, but slightly), and as volume increases, the pushrods will spray oil.
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Old Dec 10, 2021 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Che70velle
At idle, the LS platform doesn’t move a lot of oil to the top end. I’m very surprised that you have one pushrod spraying oil at idle. They usually just lightly flow oil at idle, not spray. As rpm increases, volume increases (as does pressure, but slightly), and as volume increases, the pushrods will spray oil.
I'm a bit perplexed as I've got varying information.

Some say it should be spraying good, others say it will only move oil at higher RPM, don't know what to think.

All I do know is mine sprays a solid 3 feet out of one push rod and I shut it off after a good 8 seconds of it doing that. I didn't really have an opportunity to thoroughly asses it because I was too busy trying to catch oil from spraying everywhere in my garage.
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Old Dec 11, 2021 | 08:57 AM
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Not to bust your chops, but if we're talking a pretty much stock, LS series engine, how did you get a valve cover off, while the engine was running. What I'm getting at, is where are your coil packs?
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Old Dec 11, 2021 | 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by leadfoot4
Not to bust your chops, but if we're talking a pretty much stock, LS series engine, how did you get a valve cover off, while the engine was running. What I'm getting at, is where are your coil packs?

Stock?

What is your contribution to this? Do you need help removing yours?
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Old Dec 11, 2021 | 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by b_907
Stock?

What is your contribution to this? Do you need help removing yours?
Just trying to do a little "diagnosis", to find out where you're coming from. However, you seem to have a handle on that, so good luck!

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Old Dec 11, 2021 | 12:37 PM
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I changed my lifters about 4 yrs ago and i ran the engine at idle for about 30 mins and had no oil coming up to rockers yes i had the lifter setting in oil overnight. I was so sick of working on the car i didn't care if i blow the engine. Put back together and 4 yrs later. I guess that's normal for LS engines. But one spitting oil is weird. Have u tried revving the engine?? Revving the engine only had very little oil come up for me. If u haven't tried that give it a whirl. Just my experience.

If your not comfortable revving the engine don't do it.
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Old Dec 11, 2021 | 12:44 PM
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Originally Posted by helga203
I changed my lifters about 4 yrs ago and i ran the engine at idle for about 30 mins and had no oil coming up to rockers yes i had the lifter setting in oil overnight. I was so sick of working on the car i didn't care if i blow the engine. Put back together and 4 yrs later. I guess that's normal for LS engines. But one spitting oil is weird. Have u tried revving the engine?? Revving the engine only had very little oil come up for me. If u haven't tried that give it a whirl. Just my experience.

If your not comfortable revving the engine don't do it.

Thanks, going to dive into it today. I've driven it with the noise so I've got no problem running up some rpms. Just at idle, which is 850ish, there is this 4 foot arch of oil.ivw got to contend with, so I've got to figure out how to manage that mess.

Going to take off driverside first to see what that one is doing. Just a bit tougher with where my fuel regulator is mounted.

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Old Dec 11, 2021 | 05:05 PM
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Originally Posted by b_907
Thanks, going to dive into it today. I've driven it with the noise so I've got no problem running up some rpms. Just at idle, which is 850ish, there is this 4 foot arch of oil.ivw got to contend with, so I've got to figure out how to manage that mess.

Going to take off driverside first to see what that one is doing. Just a bit tougher with where my fuel regulator is mounted.
At one time, there were aftermarket "clips" of sorts for blocking oil spray. They were made for the original SBC, so I don't know if they could be "adapted" to the LS rockers, which are very different in design. Sometimes you have to make your own tools. Maybe cut a tennis ball in half, and place it over your oil geyser, or maybe some sort of small clamp to shield the oil, idk. Whatever you do, obviously you must take care that nothing gets tangled up with any of the valvesprings. There has to be a safe way to do this. Perhaps someone else will chime in with a better idea. Best of luck to you trying to figure this out......

Last edited by grinder11; Dec 11, 2021 at 05:51 PM.
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