59A Plodder: Low Oil pressure! Can I fix it?
 

Well I'll have a go!

https://youtu.be/l05uLswrr7E

Re: 59A Plodder: Low Oil pressure! Can I fix it?
 

A bit off topic but episode 2259 is a real Duesy.

Mart, Thank you so much for putting this out. I have enjoyed this whole series! It's been brilliant. Education is always valuable and occasionally painful.

Re: 59A Plodder: Low Oil pressure! Can I fix it?
 

Thanks Jeff. I just put up a post with the link. It's amazing what you can see with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight vision.

Re: 59A Plodder: Low Oil pressure! Can I fix it?
 

Hey Mart: I know you want it to be okay, but it should not have that low of oil pressure unless something is wrong - no other way to say it other than that. You either have a bearing clearance problem or an issue with the oil pump drive at the back of the block. Did you happen to check the CAM bearings and journal sizes of the cam? I've seen at least three instances where the cam journals were ground .010 undersize, and when ran with STD bearings the engine will act just like the one you have.

On a recent 302 CI stroker, I had a cam reground to a Potvin 3/8, put it in the new engine and the oil pressure was acting just like yours does - especially when hot. I didn't let it run and decided there had to be an issue. I pulled it all apart and found the journal issue. I ALWAYS mic the cam journals - but this time I did not (my mistake). The journals were .010 under. So I just swapped the cam bearings to some .010 versions, and it immediately showed oil pressure as it should. 25 PSI at idle when hot and 60 PSI at higher RPMs.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I would not keep running that engine with that low of pressure - find out where the clearance or drive issue is.

Best of luck!
B&S

Re: 59A Plodder: Low Oil pressure! Can I fix it?
 

Mart, did you happen to shim the pressure relief valve in the block up front. A stiffer spring there will prevent the front relief from defeating the pumps ability to hold pressure. Especially at idle. Did not see anyone else make that observation. My feeble memory is not sure your block has that valve up front. Just checking..

Re: 59A Plodder: Low Oil pressure! Can I fix it?
 

No, Russ, I didn't. There is one. I'm not actively working on it at the moment. But that is an easy thing to look at.