Let me know what you guys think, whether i did something wrong or what.

i put a new 4.9 in my 85. motor is a 89 that was fuel inj, now carb. Has a 85 cyl head on it (reman). I put a new oil pan, Pump, Pickup, Lifters, push rods, and rocker arms on it. Everything was torqued to spec. Before i put the motor in, i pre oiled the system and it took a little while but oil eventually moved up to the head. Put the motor in and when its cold and i Start it the oil pressure gauge does not move and no oil is circulating in the head for about 2-3 mins!!!! then as it warms the oil is flowing and pressure is good, a little low but dam near in the middle of the gauge. Running 10w 40 with lucas additive. Ran it before in the old motor and had no problems. need to get it fixed. drove it warm and runs fine. shut it off for 15 20 mins, and start it pressure is still ok just when the motor is cold.

 

Lucas is some pretty thick stuff. @ 0F it can be cut with a siccisors. Stop using the lucas and you should see oil get to the head alot quicker. Your engine is just having a hard time pumping that thick lucas through the oil passages.
I like lucas but it can cause "dry" starts.

 

I think I may have hurt my 93 4.9 143,000 miles. I changed the oil last fall and added CD2 to the 10w 30. On one of the real cold days last winter I started it to head for work and it made some noise for about 10 -15 sec. before the oil pressure gage came up. now it makes some noise once in awhile.

Jim

 

New engine? No Lucas or other "mouse milk" and step down to 10w-30 our even 5w-30.