I finally got my 360 rebuild done. It went pretty well until I found that the rocker arms on the drivers side were not getting oil. The passenger side is oiling fine, and the oil pressure is good. The oil gallery diagram I had showed the pass side gallery comes from the oil pump, oils the lifters, then to the front of the engine. From there I couldn't see how it ran to the other side. I am thinking there is an obstruction somewhere between. Anyone have knowledge of this?

 

Are all the lifters installed the right way? Oil holes in the lifters must be pointing up when they are installed.

 

Yeah they are, I double checked that when I installed them.

 

Ok thank you for that info. I have had times that these lifters have taken some time to load up, two or three starts before they quieten up, another possibility is plugged pushrods.

 

Checked that too. They're clear.

 

Let it idle for a bit. See if it won't eventually get there. Well lubed at installation, right?

 

After further research I found that the main oil galleries cross and connect at the #1 main cap. Also I remember when I primed the oil pump, I could see oil pouring out of what must have been the driver side oil gallery, right in front of the distributor gear. This tells me I don't have a blockage. Now I'm wondering if my machine shop may have removed a plug from there and it didn't get replaced, causing a low pressure condition on that side and not forcing oil into the lifters. Can anyone tell me if there should be a plug inside of the block in front of the distributor gear? This would correspond with the plug on the back of the block.

 

I'm not seeing anything in the FSM about it. There IS a plug down there, but, it blocks a passage from the oil pump, up to the rest of the engine.

What does your oil pressure gauge have to say?

I think the flow by the dist gear is by design. Keeps the gear lubricated.

 

I think I found the problem. There should be a threaded plug at the back of the driver side oil galley. Now I just have to get it in there without pulling the engine again.

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/p.../photo_03.html

 

I can't find that plug on the engine I have out on the stand..... I can see where the dist gear and cam mesh, but, no plug is visible..... (no hole either.) Can you get a better pic of the location of that?