Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
small block oiling concern #2691389
08/25/19 10:16 PM
08/25/19 10:16 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar Offline OP
master
tubtar  Offline OP
master

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
I have a 48 degree R-3 block motor that is finally seeing some use and miles.
It runs great , pulls like a draft horse and stays at or below 180 degrees.
Charlie's 6 qt. pan and 3 qt. accusump , Melling HV pump.
Solid roller with push rod oiling.
.040 restrictors in the push rods.
The oil pressure drops off once it is warm..........15 lbs. at idle........950 r.p.m.
It pops up to 40 as the revs come up to 3000 and will max out around 60 p.s.i. at 5000 and above.
But seeing it that low is not comforting.
Brad Penn 10w40.
I went with the accusump because I felt I might have drain back issues from the top end and though it would be good insurance.
In the motor , I ground the pipe boss / drain backs in the valley flush and added a 1/2 " hole at the rear of the valley that drains right on the cam gear / oil pump drive.
I am afraid that it might be because volume in the pan is low after driving it around and the oil is being stored in the heads.
I do have a vacuum pump and after a 30 mile trip last week , all I got from the tank was what appeared to be trace condensation residue......not even an ounce , and more water than oil.
I am also wondering if the lifters may be uncovering the oil feeds maybe ?
They are not bushed.
I used the MoPar tool and drilled .090 feeds in the lifter bores.
G.S. / Crane Ultra Pro's and not crazy lift......like .668
And maybe I am worrying needlessly.
But I am still worrying.
Anyone ?
I should add.......Auto Meter Pro-Comp mechanical gauge

Last edited by tubtar; 08/25/19 10:18 PM.
Re: small block oiling concern [Re: tubtar] #2691394
08/25/19 10:34 PM
08/25/19 10:34 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
MR_P_BODY Offline
Master
MR_P_BODY  Offline
Master

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 52,972
Romeo MI
What are the rod are main clearances
wave

Re: small block oiling concern [Re: MR_P_BODY] #2691397
08/25/19 10:42 PM
08/25/19 10:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar Offline OP
master
tubtar  Offline OP
master

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
I don't recall the exact numbers , because it was assembled four or so years ago , but they were on the loose side..........0025 and .0035 ish. if memory serves.
I know it is written down somewhere , but that is going to be pretty close.
Side clearance was in the .015 neighborhood.

Re: small block oiling concern [Re: tubtar] #2691398
08/25/19 10:46 PM
08/25/19 10:46 PM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
tubtar Offline OP
master
tubtar  Offline OP
master

Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,082
St. Paul , Mn.
3/4 groove main bearings also.

Re: small block oiling concern [Re: tubtar] #2691435
08/26/19 02:03 AM
08/26/19 02:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,289
Bend,OR USA
C
Cab_Burge Offline
I Win
Cab_Burge  Offline
I Win
C

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,289
Bend,OR USA
My old BB pump gas 400 stroker motor (4.300 stroke)had oil pressure similar to yours with 5W20Wt oil hot(above 160 F), no issues ever except when I let the oil level get down to 5 quarts in a stock Mopar 6 quart 1970/1971 Hemi/440 six pack oil pan shruggy It would loose a little oil pressure at the end of a 1/4 mile run when I let off the throttle with the oil level low, never did that with more oil in it above the add line on the oil level dip stick work
Full groove main bearings and a lot more oil clearances than yours with no bushings in the lifters with 3 different brands of solid roller lifters in that motor.
I like to use the old rule of 10 lbs. of oil pressure per 1000 RPM, ie 70 lbs. at 7000 RPM
Me thinks your good on using that pressure with hot oil thumbs twocents

Last edited by Cab_Burge; 08/26/19 12:19 PM.

Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
Re: small block oiling concern [Re: tubtar] #2691456
08/26/19 07:18 AM
08/26/19 07:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar Offline
master
BigBlockMopar  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,575
The Netherlands
Originally Posted by tubtar
...
I am also wondering if the lifters may be uncovering the oil feeds maybe ?


I have the same low pressure issue and I think it's related to the lifter's oil bands being located too high and bleeding oilpressure out the top of the bores (Flattappet hydr. cam converted to solid).
But I used bigblock lifters in a 360ci engine, so that might be the main reason.
The issue starts after startup just when some heat gets into the oil.
Will be upgrading to a hydr. roller soon.

Re: small block oiling concern [Re: tubtar] #2691638
08/26/19 04:34 PM
08/26/19 04:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,408
Ambridge, Pa.
R
rickraw Offline
top fuel
rickraw  Offline
top fuel
R

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,408
Ambridge, Pa.
I tapped the holes in the lifter bores & installed 0.35 brass restrictors in my old r3. Dont remember the size of the pushrod hole size which really didn't matter. I also drilled 3 5/8" holes in the valley for drain back which worked out perfectly. I had my engine ideling around 1500. Pressure was around 35 in gear.







Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.1