the continuing saga of the mystery 351 windsor engine

[roadstar]

Well I got a really big problem with the engine in a customers car. the engine was supplyed be a local engine builder that is very credible but he is somewhat stumped too.

We fired the engine to break in the cam. First thing I noticed was the lack of oil preasure. It was strugling to get to 25 pounds at 2000 rpm. And droped to less than 5 at an idle.

The other problem is it's not getting any oil to the top end. I mean none...dry as a bone. And niosey of course.

At first we thought it was a oil pump drive rod issue But we have since ruled that out. The dist. and the pump drive rod are fine. We even used a drill motor to drive the pump and got the same reading on the guage 25 LBS max.

So, tell me if anyone knows of any oiling issues with the 351 windsors that might get over looked even by an experianced engine guy.

The fact that absolutly no oil is getting to the top end makes me think there is a blockage of some sort or it is bypassing the oil gally for the camshaft somehow...I don't know just speculating at this piont.

I was also wonering, if the oil was being blocked somehow woud it not build pressure. Like is there a bypass or pressure relieve that would cause it to act like that.???

Any ideas.???? I'm thinking it's coming out. one way or another.

[squirrel]

I seem to recall there's a galley plug under the intake, where oil goes to both lifter banks..if this plug was not installed, or popped out, you'd have those symptoms. Might pull the intake before pulling the motor.

[beatnik]

Yea, that's common for people to forget the oil crossover plug or one of the plugs behind the timing chain. The one in the intake valley was even an issue on some of the crate motors.
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[roadstar]

Thanks guys, that makes good sence. Very Possible the plug was over looked by the shop tha did the machine work.

Gus thats too cool of you to post the pics showing the plugs. If It's the one under the intake We would be home free.

We talked to the Machine shop earlier and he said the preasure relieve valve in the Aluminum Oil pumps are know to act up. but 25 lbs of oil should be enough to get to the top end and show some sighns of oiling.

I'm real lucky that the engine builder is a good friend of mine and is well know for standing behind his work.

This is actually getting kind of interesting

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[willowbilly3]

This kind of goes back to another post about machine shop work. All of that stuff really needs to be double checked. We do get a little complacent when nothing goes wrong for a while.

[3blapcam]

Buddy of mine in CA just put a 408 Windsor in a 66 Fairlane and had the same exact problem. Machine shops get used to building SBCs that they forget all the other little tricks the other makes require. Keep trucking...

Alec.