The patient: 1971 340, 10.5 comp., and a mild cam. Everything else is stock. Fresh rebuild, starting for the first time. I first noticed lifter noise so I shut it down and plumbed in a mechanical oil pressure gauge. The problem is low oil pressure, 12 lbs @ idle, climbing to 20 lbs @ 2200 rpm. Short block was assembled by a well respected engine builder. The rest was assembled by me. When I primed the oil pump I got real nice resistance on my drill motor and could see oil splashing in the distributor hole. I plan on trying the easier things first. I will pull the oil filter adapter tommorrow and make sure all the seals are in place. Then I plan on pulling the timing cover to make sure the front oil gallery plugs are still in place. If there was a problem with the rears I would be seeing oil coming out the flexplate inspection cover. If all is well there I think my next step is to pull the motor and start checking clearances. Does anyone have any other suggestions to try before pulling the motor?
TIA
Arno

Remove the distributor and check for a missing plug at the back of the lifter galley.

Hope you dont have a Fram filter on it.

The plugs at the back of the lifter gallery are in place. I'm thinking a front one may have dislodged. I think those are press in like freeze plugs. I have a wix filter on it.
Thanks
Arno

Did you have it magna fluxed, I hope you dont have awierd crack bleeding off oil PSI. I had a 318 that crackedin the lifter galley where the rear inside drivers side plug went in, It was put in too far, and split the block.

Oil splashing while looking into the distributor hole is a dead givaway that the plug is not in place. Check it,do you know where it should be?

Your response confirms things. Remove the distributor. You'll see the end of the lifter galley facing the dist bushing. There should be a plug in that opening on the end of the galley. Spin the pump if you like while looking and you'll see oil pouring out the end.Yes there is a plug in the bellhousing and you should put the plug in the lifter galley THEN install the bellhousing plug. Put a plug in it and you'll be fine.

yep, sounds like the engine builder missed the interior plug Arno. It's fore and to the drivers side of the distributor shaft, and is directly in front of the rear block galley plug on the other side of the intermediate oil pump gear.

there is one oil gallery plug that inside the engine on the driver side...check it.

corrected..

this drawing is of a B block, but the idea and location is about the same.

see the passages that come up at the rear of the block? That is where you need to look.

Pretend the dist. is back there.

The inside plug is on the Driver side,the passenger side plug is in the bellhousing.

Thanks guys! What is the easiest access to that plug? Can I get to it by pulling the intake or do I need to pull the trans?
Arno

I've done it thru the disrtibutor opening,but removing the intake would make it easier.

It sounds like a few people have made this mistake before. I don't feel so bad now.
Arno

Oh yeay definatly...

When I did it I got ZERO oil psi, the cracked block gave me about 10-15psi. Thats why I brought up the crack in said plun area of the block.

I really hope yours isnt, but mine wasnt repairable very cheaply, thank god mine was a 318.

Hope all goes well...

Kasey

what is normal oil pressure,my challenger goes down to around 10lbs at warm idle and goes up to 45-50 when driving...is that ok??