Brian270

Hi all,

I am priming a 76ish 454 to see if its at least got oil pressure before installing it and find that 4 rockers aren't getting oil.
I have verified that the lifters are flowing oil and the push rods are open.
I also swapped a dry and wet rocker and oil started flowing to both so it must be something to do with the rod and rocker mating???
Can I just continue to do this until I get oil flow from them all or do you think I should buy new rockers and rods?
On a serious budget to boot..
Cheers

kevinkpk

I don't know how you are testing this, but what I would do, with distributor out, hook a drill to the oil pump shaft, then check. If low oil, AND the push rod clean, speed the drill up to speed the pump. The 454 sometimes has an "issue" with low (starting) rpm with top end oil pressure.

Brian270

Hey Kevinkpk.
I made the proper tool from an old distributor. I have been spinning it as fast as my 3/8" drill will go till battery dies then switch batteries and giv'r again.
Maybe the old Ridgid drill doesn't spin fast enough.

kevinkpk

Think about the rpm at idle your engine has, 750 or so, try that .

Brian270

Drill is quite a bit faster than 750 I'm thinking
Just borrowed neighbours 1/2" and ran it for 5 minutes. Its rated at 2700 peak rpm.
Oil is up in rod but not making it past rocker..I'm thinking now that rocker is worn enough that the holes don't match up.
Gonna do some swapping again.

kevinkpk

You might take a small drill bit to the rocker arm, increase the size. I'd also recheck the lifter, and push rods.