I just got a new 350 crate motor and was trying to pre-oil the motor to check for leaks before installation. While running the drill on the oil pump I can see the oil come up on the lifters for cylinder # 7, then # 5, then # 3 then # 1 but no oil appears on the even cylinder lifters. Could it be that my drill does not have enough RPM to get the pressure for this side of the motor? Or have I done something wrong when I installed the Heads or cam or lifters, etc...?

 

were you turning the engine over by hand while running the oil through it?

 

I tried turning the motor over by hand also while I was turning the oil pump and that didn't appear to change anything. It was obviously pretty slow. I am wondering why would the odd cylinders get oil and not the even?

 

get a cheapo mech. guage and see what the pressure is while you're turining the pump w/ the drill

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350, Comp 262, Edelbrock Performer intake 600 cfm carb and exhaust, headers

 

Even if I had a guage it would tell me that the oil pressure is good. I have no oil coming to the even cylinder head.

 

SOmetimes the crate motors have cosmoline and/or assembly lube (SP) plugging up some of the oil flow areas. It will flow when heated up. Also try turning the crank 1/4 turn, apply pressure, turn another 1/4 turn, apply presure, etc... If nothing, don't worry about it and just start it up and check for oil then.

Cosmoline is oil and "vasoline" mix used to store/protect bare metal. It sticks very good... Crate motors are full of it and you will smell it burn off the block when you start it up.

 

If your oil pump primer does not have a little flange at the bottom that simulates the portion of the distributor directly above the drive gear, the oil will not be routed to the passenger side of the engine. Hence, no oil on even rockers.

 

That took alot of answers before the right one came out...

jcb999 is exactly right. The distributor housing goes right through the middle of the passage that carries the oil to the right bank lifters. Notice on a dist housing the next time you can see one, that there are 2 raised bosses about 4" up from the end; the groove between them completes the passage, and the bosses seal to the block (weakly) above and below the passage. With no dist in there, there is therefore a massive internal oil system leak. The oil pressure will never exceed 10 psi and the right lifters will always be dry.

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"So many Mustangs, so little time..."

 

I took an old scrapped points-type distributor (free) left the cam gear on the end but ground the teeth down until flush, cleaned it thoroughly, cut the top plate off where the advance weights and springs attach and found a drill it would fit in. Works perfectly, just don't press down any more than necessary on the oil pump. Either make one of these or buy or of the priming tools with the bosses in the proper place like was mentioned above.

 

Thanks for the info. I purchased the Moroso pre-oil tool and it does not have the boss. You would think the package or something would explain the problem or at least make you aware of what was going to happen. Once again you guy have been very helpful. THANKS