I got a 396. I had a new cam put in it and had it cleaned up. It has new crank bearings as well. when i try and prime the oil pump the lifters aren't pumping solid. btw it is a hydraulic cam. i'm not even getting oil to the rocker arms even though the pressure gauge shows 50 psi. anyone ever experienced this before?
thanks,
josh

I assume that you're priming it with a priming tool and a drill. That way doesn't really produce enough volume to get the oil up to the rockers. Lube them real good and once you fire it up, it should be fine.

What blocks had the grooved bearings?

well i made a tool...but i found out i need it to be like a distributor to seal....i got the lifters pumped up now after i welded a rod to the top of an old distributor. i'm not getting oil up there yet. they are roller rockers so that should help right? If they don't get oil as quick is it ok since they are roller rockers? And i don't know what years had the grooved bearings. i had a shop put in my bearings and degree the cam in when i had the head work done.
thanks
josh
65 malibu

I had actully machined an old distributor and it works ok. Like I said, just lube the rockers real good and you should be fine. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

i have a 66 with a grooved cam and was told that 66&67 needs a groove. i'm not sure about 64&65. I heard just the older velles need them. not 68 on up :cool:

i'm not sure what year my motor is. i decoded it once but i forgot. i grabbed an old distributor and welded a rod to it and it worked. it never cranked very hard with the 1/2 in. drill. i was told it would crank hard, but i'm going to oil the rocker arms and start it now. i got the rocker arms set for the start.

josh
65 malibu

As long as you have good oil pressure and the cam and lifters are well lubed you'll be fine.
Only 65-66 big blocks used the grooved rear cam
bearing as well as a grooved cam. :cool:

You will have to prime that engine for a long time to get the oil up into the lifters and onto the rockers. Just be patient and will come out if the lifters galleries are sealed with your tool that you are using.