I HAVE A 350 Engine in my one of my 70 chevelles that looks newly rebuilt inside very clean. Had a idiot light in it and one day while moving the car and parking in yard the oil pressure light in dash flickered a couple times , then when i brought the rpm up on it the light came on more constant. I took valve cover off and no oil was pumping up through the pushrods and was no oil in areas to prove there was oil coming up. I pulled the engine and have it on a stand with intake off. Removed oil pan and replaced the oil pump and checked all the rod and main bearings and the look almost new as does the entire engine with with double roller timing chain and high performance oil pump rod. New pump went in and put pan back on . Filled it with oil and used old distributer shaft to turn oil pump and have gotten it up to 50 pounds of pressure now with drill but not getting oil up through the tips of push rods yet . Don`t know whether to dump it back in the car and try again or remove the heads and buy a new short block . I THOUGHT SOMEONE ON HERE WOULD HAVE AN OPINION OF WHETHER I SHOULD TRY IT AGAIN OR TEAR IT DOWN LOOKING FOR CLUES. THIS IS A VERY NEW ENGINE WITH SEVERAL STICKERS ON IT FROM REBUILDERS AND VERY SHINY FREEZE PLUGS. TOO NICE A MOTOR TO GIVE TO REBUILDER FOR A CORE CHARGE I`D LIKE TO CURE THE PROBLEM RATHER THAT JUST THROW MONEY AT IT UNTIL THE problem is solved. I GOT THIS MOTOR FROM MY OWN BROTHER THAT REMOVED IT FROM HIS 1 1/2 TON TRUCK AND SAID HE REMOVED IT TO PUT 366 TRUCK MOTOR BACK IN . DON`T KNOW WHETHER TO BUST MY KNUCKLES WORKING ON THE ENGINE OR BUST MY KNUCKLES ON MY BROTHER . I`ve built several cars and have 4 classic chevys now but why does such a simple car project chevelle always make me build the thing twice , Yes i`m good at doing body offs on my twin 70`s and 67 i can take entire car apart fast and put back together quick too if parts are at hand. IT SURE LOOKED GOOD WITH ALL THE DETAILING AND POWDERCOATED DRESS UP GOODIES ON IT UNDER THE HOOD HOPE SOMEONE HAS AN OPINION OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS . TWIN 70 CHEVELLES, 67SS396 CLONE and 65 shortbed are getting me down. I`m ready to get the twins finished, I put a new shortblock in the other 70 . I Guess i should not have bought an engine from my older brother !!!!!???????!!!!! LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK !!! KEVIN P

check to see that the 3 plugs are in place behind the upper timing gear. if they're left out you won't get any oil to the top end. the plugs cap off the three oil galleys that run from front to back through the block. Also, since you have it on a stand, pop the manifold off and remove the rear-most lifters. install the priming tool and run it. you should be able to see massive oil coming from the oil galley holes.

Yes tom, Thanks for your input. I have the timing cover on the engine so i can`t see if those plugs are all in there but i did remove the back two lifters and got plenty of oil up through the lifter holes. The lifters have no wear on them at all. Not sure if i should reinstall in the car and run it or not. I`m absolutely sure i won`t buy ant engines from my brother again . Rather pay the price and have new warranted engine. This car was ready to go to paint and i had powdercoated all the parts including the crossmember and driveshaft so this would be a one time thing. The entire front clip parts are also powdercoated like inner fenders and radiator support right down to the headlight buckets. This has been the biggest letdown i have ever had and i have built several chevelles in the last twenty years. Having mechanical depression and break down . Any more tips ? Thanks Kevin

I pulled all the lifters , All looked like new except one was badly worn and mushroomed and had hard time pulling it out. Lifter on #1 cylinder in front. Probobly had lifter adjusted too tight and wore out the lobe on the cam , the lifter and probobly put too much pressure on the front cam bearings. It may have a spun cam bearing. Will pull balancer and timing cover tomorrow. May just have to replace cam bearings , cam and lifters and reassemble. The bore still has some of the cross hatch pattern in it so i will try to fix it rather than buy new short block .