Interesting SBF issue....

[blykins]

I'm building a 460 Windsor for a customer. Dart SHP 9.5" block. Hydraulic roller camshaft, with OEM style lifters, dogbones, lifter spider, etc.

The Dart SHP block is supposed to be priority main....i.e. the oil comes up the front from the oil pump, down the main oil galley to feed mains/rods, up the back of the block, and then feeds both lifter passages.

My SOP is to put oil in the pan and prime the pump with the intake manifold off just to make sure there aren't any oiling issues. I primed and got oil to all the lifters. Didn't see anything abnormal.

Popped the intake manifold on, pushrods, rocker arms, ran the valves, then primed the pump again.

All 16 rocker arms are oiling, but I'm getting a GUSH of oil out of #1 intake rocker arm.

The rear rockers on the passenger side should get oil first and the last one to get oil on that side should be the #1 intake rocker.

I pulled the rear passenger side galley plug out and, sure enough, there's a passage leading up from the main oil galley at the rear, and the instant that I move the pump priming tool with my hand, there's oil there.

What am I missing here? Why is there a flood of oil coming from only one rocker, and it's coming from the rocker that should be on the end of the feed?

I don't remember there being anything abnormal when I washed the block and cleaned the passages out, but is it possible that they connected the main galley to the passenger side lifter galley at the front as well? To my knowledge, SHP and Sportsman blocks are not that way, but the Iron Eagle blocks are made like that and are made to be restricted either at the front or the rear, depending on which end you're pushing the oil from.

[Keith Morganstein]

Maybe just the lifter?

[blykins]

That's the only thing I can think of, Keith. The odd thing is that it pumps up correctly. Maybe it's just metering more?

I got to thinking about previous builds and even on Iron Eagle SBF blocks that oil the lifters from both ends, I've never seen a gusher like this.

[travis]

Does it still gush if you turn the crank a bit, then a bit further?

No cup or galley plugs seated in too far? (I’ve never used one of these blocks so not sure if this is even a possibility or not, just thinking out loud)

Possibly some lifters with trash in them? I had a sbc one time that I couldn’t get any oil out of about 3/4 of pushrods...found most of the lifters plugged up with styrofoam from the lifter packaging

[numboltz]

Isn't the easy way out to just swap the lifter/pushrod combo for another one and see if the
problem migrates with it?

[Geoff2]

Maybe the metering valve disc was left out of the lifter?

[blykins]

Pulled the intake, pulled another box of lifters off the shelf and stabbed a single in. No more gushing.

I will have to say, I have had the opposite problem but I’ve never seen a lifter gush oil like that.

[blykins]

Video...


https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmn17J2gqEw ... otorsports

[af2]

WOW hand primer to boot! That is why you have to check everything. Good job!

[ProPower engines]

Good catch Thats why we get paid the big bucks.
Its not the 1st time I have seen that issue.
Machine assembled parts are a engineering marvel but they do go sideways from time to time.
Lifters are a PITA at the best of times but yes it seems no matter the quality we still have the need to confirm all the internal parts are in the correct installed order or even installed for that matter.

Thats why when ever possible I alway disassemble and check all lifters for correct assembly or internal parts and that they are orientated correctly

[blykins]

That's my first gusher LOL

I've had ones that didn't oil....I've had ones that wouldn't stay pumped up, but never had one that bled out like that.

It's gonna go on the dyno and I'm glad I prime early in the build. If I would have had low oil pressure on the dyno, I never would have figured it out.

[blykins]

WOW hand primer to boot! That is why you have to check everything. Good job!

Yes, it was literally a pair of vice-grips on a priming tool so that I could video at the same time....turning with one hand.

[bigmike]

Never seen that one before.

[user-17438]

Just wondering, do you not check lifter bore clearance? Or was it the oil band? Depending on who's lifters you buy, sometimes you need 2 or 3 sets to get them within .0005" now if they are some cheap economy I have seen them .0015" difference. If you aren't cheap they are usually more accurate then my means of measuring.

So some can be .0017 clearance and high side .0032" that's a big difference.

[Geoff2]

Do not see how this problem could be a lifter bore clearance issue, if that is what the suggestion is.