Valve train 'a knocken,oil pressure blues

robertwigton · 12-02-2001, 04:16 PM

Any body else have problems with valve train "clater"?
Motor has 10,000 miles.Just replaced oil pump w/H-V Melling,and same pressure @ 800/850 RPMS!

If I bring it up to 950/1000
RPMs shows @ first line on stock gauge,WTF!

When I built motor plastic gauge @ .002/.003

Plus now I'm having problems with valve train noise,(shim'd
up rockers right out of book,w/lifter dry,set valve clearance @ valve tip to .140)Just had to reinstall cam 'cause smoked a lobe and lifter(comp replaced free 'cause I just installed)Could cam lobe/lifter failure be related?
I'm not dum,of course it could be related,But has any one else had problems with this?What about Comp Cams?Some people told me(after Ibought cam,of course!)to stay a way from Comp Cams???

NO SLO PK · 12-03-2001, 01:12 PM

I wiped out ALL the lobes on a Comp 280H Magnum camshaft in a 289. Not to scare you, but the engine was never the same. Low oil pressure that just kept getting lower over time. When I did the tear-down all the bearings were hurt, layers of the cam bearings were peeling off.

Fwiw, it wasn't the cam's fault...I had a coolant leak in the oil. Chocolate milkshake. nfg.

robertwigton · 12-04-2001, 04:57 AM

Does,or did,you engine seem to be "quiet" when it was cold,+ have good oil pressure?I noted,that car cool,has good oil pressure,as soon as gets warmed up.no oil pressure,and the valve train starts making noise...

Unit 5302 · 12-04-2001, 08:58 AM

Cam bearings can seriously rob oil pressure if they are bad. It sounds to me like you've got some clearance in there somewhere. Try running a heavier weight oil in the engine, it may save it for a little while. Or, if you want to try and save all the parts, attach a real oil pressure gauge to that thing man. The stock gauge is a piece of ****, it should only be used as a pressure or no pressure device.

Sounds like you really need to get back in there to me. Don't forget to check the rod bearings and all that stuff. Could be any number of things, but since you have swapped out the oil pump, it doesn't look good.

robertwigton · 12-04-2001, 06:27 PM

Called machine shop today,told me it sounded like main bearing clearance to much....Told me to use 20w50 oil,which I changed
today.It deffently helped!He said I'd just have to live with it unless I wanted to do engine again.So,in the future I wouldn't "save" money @ machine shop level!I had the machine work on this engine done at a "new" shop to save money!
BAD MOVE!!!Like unit 5302 said either cam bearings or mains,
either way I'm#@!$

.So I'll have to live and learn

12-02-2001, 04:16 PM	#1
robertwigton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: orlando,fl USA Posts: 44	Valve train 'a knocken,oil pressure blues Any body else have problems with valve train "clater"? Motor has 10,000 miles.Just replaced oil pump w/H-V Melling,and same pressure @ 800/850 RPMS! If I bring it up to 950/1000 RPMs shows @ first line on stock gauge,WTF! When I built motor plastic gauge @ .002/.003 Plus now I'm having problems with valve train noise,(shim'd up rockers right out of book,w/lifter dry,set valve clearance @ valve tip to .140)Just had to reinstall cam 'cause smoked a lobe and lifter(comp replaced free 'cause I just installed)Could cam lobe/lifter failure be related? I'm not dum,of course it could be related,But has any one else had problems with this?What about Comp Cams?Some people told me(after Ibought cam,of course!)to stay a way from Comp Cams??? __________________ 89'LX 5.oh.BBK shortys,no cats Flow masters w/Dumps,Crane Cam(Top secert) MSD 6AL,Blaster coil,Motor sport 9mm wires,under drive pulleys,no smog timming @ 16 deg,K&N,70 mm maf, Pro5.0shifter,Home made frame con. south side lift bars,3.73 bald @#! tires(2 on rear!)Sony C-D and Rockford fasgate rear,w/sony explode 5 1/2 in front.

12-03-2001, 01:12 PM	#2
NO SLO PK Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Arcadia, CA, USA Posts: 731	I wiped out ALL the lobes on a Comp 280H Magnum camshaft in a 289. Not to scare you, but the engine was never the same. Low oil pressure that just kept getting lower over time. When I did the tear-down all the bearings were hurt, layers of the cam bearings were peeling off. Fwiw, it wasn't the cam's fault...I had a coolant leak in the oil. Chocolate milkshake. nfg. __________________ Russ L '91 LX - 331 w/ Procharger '03 Cobra Convertible - Pullied '94 Lightning '65 Mustang Coupe

12-04-2001, 04:57 AM	#3
robertwigton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: orlando,fl USA Posts: 44	Low,Lower,Lowest oil pressure! Does,or did,you engine seem to be "quiet" when it was cold,+ have good oil pressure?I noted,that car cool,has good oil pressure,as soon as gets warmed up.no oil pressure,and the valve train starts making noise... __________________ 89'LX 5.oh.BBK shortys,no cats Flow masters w/Dumps,Crane Cam(Top secert) MSD 6AL,Blaster coil,Motor sport 9mm wires,under drive pulleys,no smog timming @ 16 deg,K&N,70 mm maf, Pro5.0shifter,Home made frame con. south side lift bars,3.73 bald @#! tires(2 on rear!)Sony C-D and Rockford fasgate rear,w/sony explode 5 1/2 in front.

12-04-2001, 06:27 PM	#5
robertwigton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: orlando,fl USA Posts: 44	Oil pressure Called machine shop today,told me it sounded like main bearing clearance to much....Told me to use 20w50 oil,which I changed today.It deffently helped!He said I'd just have to live with it unless I wanted to do engine again.So,in the future I wouldn't "save" money @ machine shop level!I had the machine work on this engine done at a "new" shop to save money! BAD MOVE!!!Like unit 5302 said either cam bearings or mains, either way I'm#@!$ .So I'll have to live and learn __________________ 89'LX 5.oh.BBK shortys,no cats Flow masters w/Dumps,Crane Cam(Top secert) MSD 6AL,Blaster coil,Motor sport 9mm wires,under drive pulleys,no smog timming @ 16 deg,K&N,70 mm maf, Pro5.0shifter,Home made frame con. south side lift bars,3.73 bald @#! tires(2 on rear!)Sony C-D and Rockford fasgate rear,w/sony explode 5 1/2 in front.

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12-04-2001, 08:58 AM	#4
Unit 5302 Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Posts: 5,246	Cam bearings can seriously rob oil pressure if they are bad. It sounds to me like you've got some clearance in there somewhere. Try running a heavier weight oil in the engine, it may save it for a little while. Or, if you want to try and save all the parts, attach a real oil pressure gauge to that thing man. The stock gauge is a piece of ****, it should only be used as a pressure or no pressure device. Sounds like you really need to get back in there to me. Don't forget to check the rod bearings and all that stuff. Could be any number of things, but since you have swapped out the oil pump, it doesn't look good.