help guys.i have a '55 265 sbc that has 50 psi at the gauge,but none is getting to the rockers.it was rebuilt about 8 yrs ago by someone else and we just fired it off the otherweek.it ran great ,but never oiled the rockers.thought it may be thick grease from assembly.i figured after it heated up the grease would give up.nope.it has hyd.lifters,i checked for hollow push rods and blockage,its ok.i,m about to remove the cam to see if it has the right bearing and journal. whaddaya think?????nickoli
Did you try and prime it? I don't think I would start an engine which has sat for that long without priming it first.
I think we have a hard-core traditional problem here...my memory is dim, but when you put a late cam into a '55-6 engine, the oiling path to the top end is cut off. Cure is a notch ground in cam bearing area...details should be easy to find. If cam has been replaced, chances are it's a late cam! Vizard's Chevy rebuild book has details, I believe. I assume from your post engine wasn't in use between rebuild and now?
Yep. Rear cam journal need a groove machined. Be careful though. To wide or deep and you'll lose ALOT of prssure once the motor warms up. My dad just did a '55 265 and is now having oil pressure problems. Suspects the machine shop that put the groove in the cam made groove too large.
i did in fact prime the engine eith a drill.the lifters did clatter throughout the running time(about 20 min.)though not exessive.i wondered if a loose adjustment would not allow the oil up to the rockers?i have heard that an improper cam/rear bearing would effect my problem.i just wanted a second or third opinion before i tore into it to see what the rebuilder got me into. thanks guys.nickoli
Yep, been through this before too. All you should have to do is pull the cam and connect the two holes in the rear cam bearing. In other words turn the two holes into one slot, I didnt have too do anything to the cam this way. Old millwright taught me this 20 years ago.
Sure sounds like the cam slot deal. If you can get a look at '55-'56 camshafts, a hydraulic cam had a much larger, deeper slot than a solid lifter cam. If you need measurements, I've got one of each I can mike.
The "flat spot" or "notch" is on the rear cam bearing journal and also matches to a flattened spot on the bottom of the distributor housing. This is the old style distributor WITHOUT the window for setting the points only on the 265 V8. I think you need the old style distributor as well as the notched journal on the cam. overspray
The cam or cam bearing needs to be grooved. The primary oil route is up through the rear cam bearing. without the groove, slot you will ahve oil pressure but you are blocking the main passage for cam bearing lubrication and also the delivery of oil to the lifters. Overspray is correct also, you need to run the older style distributor.
Pull the timing cover and replace the 2 plugs that blew out from the front of the galleries behind that cam gear...
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