<-- That's what I need - didn't even think of that.
oil pressure ?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
oil pressure ?
ok , i got a 76 390 and it had about 5 psi at idle when i got it so i pulled the pan and the pickup was cleaned because it was clogged. i also installed a melling HV pump and now i have 80 psi at start up and 25 psi idle. but my issue is i can't get oil to the rocker arms. i have plenty of oil flow if i remove the bolt on the oil feed hole but i just don't have any pressure. where do the rocker arms get the oil from? are they fed from the cam bearings? i have tried 2 sets of rocker arms with no difference. any help would be great.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Sometimes it takes a small amount of time for the oil to work it's way up there, especially if the engine is cold. When I was priming the oil system on my 390, I was scared because I didn't see any oil coming out from the rockers for a minute or two! Sure enough, eventually the air was forced out and the oil started oozing out from around the rockers.
How long are you running it before determining there is no oil?
How long are you running it before determining there is no oil?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: "Islander"
You need oil running off the valve springs to help cool the springs this also lengthen their lifespan.
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Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Portland, OR
A light drizzle is all you'll get at an idle. Should start oiling more around 1500-2000. I would not have run the HV pump with a stock engine. 5 psi idle oil pressure is great for a stock FE. I had a 290,000 mile 66 390 that ran great with .5 psi oil pressure at 650 rpm with 10W30. straight 40 wt and 800 rpm idle got 2 psi oil pressure. Had a whopping 22 psi at 4500 rpm. Put 40K hard miles on the engine in my truck and it never missed a beat, leaked alot though. Pulled it's crank out for my new 390 and not only was the crank beautiful, but the bearings were perfect and definitely original. Just polished it and it was still perfect standard spec. That crank's got well over half a million miles on it now and never been turned.
With an HV pump you should also be running restrictors in the heads. I know if I crank my 390 over with .030" restriction holes in the oil passages with the rockers off it'll spray a stream of oil 20 feet. I'm running the erson needle bearing rockers, that's why the small restriction hole.
With an HV pump you should also be running restrictors in the heads. I know if I crank my 390 over with .030" restriction holes in the oil passages with the rockers off it'll spray a stream of oil 20 feet. I'm running the erson needle bearing rockers, that's why the small restriction hole.