My motor is in and running but only pushing out a SORRY e.t. of 15.5 slower then the worn out TPI motor that was in it. I have noticed oil preasure was up high like a good 45 or 50 psi but all of a sudden one day it started dropping one day it was 30 next 25 lower and lower now at 15 psi of oil pressure checked with a mechanical guage buy US Proformance in loveland... WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED! They did notice somehow the timing was at 40 degrees which is now 14 degrees Scott (US Proformance) suggested that maybe all that timing killed the bearings and are causing low oil pressure, idk if that is possible but maybe? What else could it be? oil pump? I really am dreading pulling the motor I barely ran it! I can't check the oil pressure lower on the block this one isn't tapped ffor it PLEASE help I am sad

 

15 PSI at what RPM and temp? If that's as high as it get's when hot, it's gotta come out...

 

Do you hear any knock upon start up? Does the pressure increase with rpms? What is the pressure when first started in the morning when dead cold ,also what weight oil are you using ? What is the engines operating temp? Did you hammer it during the break in period if it was a fresh rebuild? And just to let you know if this makes you feel better it is acceptable by standards according to car manufactures 10 pounds of oil presure per 1000 rpms. I personally do not like that low of pressure / My original 305 before my swap was 35 pounds at idle with 95000 miles on engine? If you are running hot in a hot climate I would use a 20-50 weight oil ,if your not already.......Good luck to you . Any questions just holla.............

 

THe car is at 170 degrees and at idle and at all RPM it dosent seem to change with RPM increasing I bet it was the timing was so far off that it was sparking when the piston was at top dead center and flattened out the bearings does that sound right

 

No, that doesn't sound right. The pressure should rise with RPM even if you have wide clearances. Have you tried more than one OP gauge? Have you tried another filter? Not a cheap FRAM on there, right? Assuming that pressure is right and a new filter doesn't change it, I'd jack up the engine, pull the pan, and take a look at, and plastigage, a couple bearings. If they looked OK, I'd try a new pump. You could have a defective one with a stuck pressure limiter.

One other long shot, make sure your distributor is seated all the way down to the block. I've seen people tighten them with the OP drive not engaged and I've seen the clamp slide off. In either case the dist can rise and just barely turn the pump.

 

The oil pressure should rise with the rpm increase. I do not think the advanced timing caused your problem, at least I never came across that problem with timing. JV9999 mentioned to check your distributor and oil filter those are 2 good points he had. If they check out ok drop the pan and check your bearings if they look good pull the pump and replace''''' Do you have any knocking or loud noise when you first start up?

 

I am planning on replacing the oil pump anyway just incase that is what it is. It isn't a cheap filter I don't remember what is was but I know it wasn't a fram. I am not psitive on the RPM's increasing oil pressure because the guage in my dash is slow and dosent change much. I asked the guy that used to do thw work on my car but costs too much $$$$ and he said he has seen too much timing do that before.

If it does turn out to be bearings I need to make sure I set the timing again before I run it again LOL

 

I don't mean to hi-jack this thread, but I have been losing oil pressure as well on a fresh build, and I was told it could be the oil filter adapter. I did reuse the old one and the motor is out of a 70's pickup. Sound possible or a long shot?