Right now something isn't right with my motor. I don't know what I'm looking for (first build) so I am putting all my struggles up for you all to take a shot at...I'm seriously at a complete standstill with no clue where to go next to try to fix this motor.
Its been started maybe 20 times. Only a slight amount of driving done. Fresh rebuild.

Former 1991 305 TPI
383 2 bolt main roller block
Trickflow 23 degree heads
Comp 987 Springs
Comp 230/236 .510/.520 (.544/.555 with my 1.6 ProMags)
Comp Lifters
Melling M55A oil pump
SVO 30# injectors
Holley Stealthram w/BBK 58mm TB

1. There is much more metal in my oil than I'd expect from a hyd roller.

2. I have a loud valvetrain noise (SVO red tops are ticking very loudly....very loudly but I can hear another noise I think)

3. I'm only getting 10 PSI oil pressure at hot idle

4. At idle no oil is going to my heads throught the lifters...with RPM's a little starts to spit out.

5. JUST RECENTLY...I pulled the pass valve cover (see #4) and started the car it then started to backfire every 3 seconds!!! Replaced and it did not change. Before it didn't backfire.

6. All my plugs look different from another...some blacker than others.

7. #1 and #3 header primaries were much colder than the other 6

8. 'I think' some of my valves are opening less than others, this is just with naked eye.

9. Burns my eyes unless the timing is advanced a lot (I know this is probably chip related).

10. The other day I got a lot of rust on my pass side rockers (drivers has two breathers pass none; no PCV)

11. A little smoke coming out of my breathers (blow by?)

I also had a voltage problem (battery located to rear) but something else is going on for sure.


My friend came out and he thinks I got some bad lifters which could be causing all sorts of havoc. Possibly bad lifters?
We hooked up his scanner and all the electronics seem to be okay BUT...
his scanner kept cutting out saying no signal or something (something wrong here?)
Could my walls be washed down possibly?
Do you think I have a cam lobe(s) wiped?

I need any input here...some direction to go to fix this motor, I feel like selling the car

 

-have you checked valve lash with engine off, on drivers side? (in ref to #7&8), well, maybe not checked, but re-did?

-do you have a dial guage? you can get a dial gauge, with magnetic stand, perhaps one that has up to 1" travel (not sure if you can get one that large). Then set it up to check pushrod travel. Turn motor over by hand, and check a few cylinders this way. Compare to cam lift spec #.

??? I'm waiting with baited breath for you to find your problems. I only hope my recent build doesn't start having that many problems.

 

No, I've just had extremly bad luck with this one.

I've ran through the lash many times with no result. Maybe I'm not doing it right but I don't see how you can screw it up on hyd roller motors.

 

No PCV? Have you changed the oil this week? It;s going to be a weekly task with no functioning PCV system - Unless you don't mind running contaminated oil in your engine.

 

I think with your oil pressure and metal issues', it's time to pull the pan. Have you done it yet?

I think you should pull it, and verify your oil pump is there, and everything looks right. Remove it and disassemble it. Also, while you're there, check the mains. I think you may find a problem there.
Either way, perhaps a high volume/high pressure pump might be in order, steel driveshaft as well, that is, if you don't find any deal breakers there.

 

The oil has been changed a ton since its been started. I know a PCV is best but right now I don't have one. I plan to drill a hole, get a grommet and a valve and install it but I don't have baffels in these valve covers so when do install it its going to create a big mess.

Pulling the pan requires me lifting the motor so I havn't done that yet. I think the oil may finally be cleaner from what I can see puddled in the heads so that has to be a good sign.

I'm very concerned now with the backfiring...it will backfire every couple seconds now!

 

Whenever I prime the system with the intake off I get absolutly nothing to the heads. There is a some that flows out of the dizzy hole but nothing else I can see. My mechanical gauge by the timing cover shows 45 PSI.

The oil is white too. Could this be from all the water that spilled in the crank case when I pulled the intake?

 

Motors out for a rebuild. Minus the oil pump shaft rubbing on the main washer I see no other problems yet EXCEPT...

My #3 intake lifter is cracked!!!! Down near the roller. It was very tough to get out (had to use vice grips...every other one came out like butta!) and I know why. It still rolled smooth but is cracked, WTF!?!?!