Finally got the nerve to take off the heads on my '99 3.3 with 170k. The front rocker arm has been replaced at least 3 times due to lack of oil flow. What I found was that the rear was much worse than the front. Looks like the oil passage in the rear head was blocked with dry gunk. The front was in much better condition than it has been in past - as if it was getting more oil. Maybe my pulling one bolt off the head a running a wire in the oil galley helped?

I checked the oil holes in the block and both sides are open. I sprayed carb cleaner in the holes and can see the spray coming out in the cam galley.

I pulled a few lifters thinking for sure they were damaged by lack of oil - but they look ok. The used my finger to feel the cam and it's smooth and rotated the engine and don't see any severe wear.

I'm hoping that with the head oil galleys open that oil will flow but I understand from reading posts that the cam may have to come off to determine if there are other clogs? I'm a weekend mechanic - is it worth taking off the oil pan to check the pick up filter? My thinking is that could be causing some of the problem.

Is there anything else I can do before putting the heads back on to open up clogged oil galleys?