SBC oil pressure?

Question

I stuffed a 350 sbc into my jeep cherokee when i first started it i was getting 65psi of oil pressure at idle. not im only etting around 30 at idle when cold and 10 or less at idle when hot. some of you are going to say clearances when i assembled my motor i had 3 thousands of clearance onthe rods and mains. i put posi-locks to keep the valves from backing off dad reset them. any ideas? i pulled the pan off the oil pump was tight the drive shaft was still on, the screen wasent stopped up, im goign to try a new filter if that dosent work maybe a new pump. im getting 10 at idle then it goes down it will go up to maybe 30-40 psi when r'ed up

oh i forgot to say this is a completely rebuilt engine i bought everything in a kit, an i used PLENTY of assembely lube, it has a high volume pump in it. im 18 and start college in a few days! ahh help!

It has an auto meter mechanical gauge and besides now when you take the valve cover off it wont SHOOT oil everywhere like it was.. I wouldent think it would keep all of the oil in the top just at idle.. it a mild performance motor no need for a different pan or windage tray. .030 over 350 flat tops,performance cam, intake,headers blah blah

I found out what it was...they sent me the wrong bearings. they sent .010 i needed . 020

Answer 1

It shouldn't be the filter, most filters have a bypass valve in them in case they get plugged to allow the oil to flow through them. I'd say change the pump, or pull a main cap off and use some plastigauge to recheck the clearances. You may have to roll some .001 over bearings in there, it's a pain but can be done in-frame. (Well, not sure if you can with that stuff job ya did)

Answer 2

First i would use an accurate mechanical guage on it like autometers sportcomp guage if thats not the problem maybe check the oil pump i have see high volume pumps suck up the oil before it can drain back to the pan .. i dont know how high performance the motor is but sometimes you have to run larger pans and windage trays. It could also be a faulty pump that is cavatating internally..

Answer 3

I don't have any idea other than suggesting to buy a high volume pump. You are going to have it apart anyway, if you haven't done it yet, now would be the time for a gear drive timing set. Good luck, sorry for your troubles. Maybe look into the guage and sending unit before pulling the motor.

Answer 4

I have seen many "high volume" oil pumps go bad in a very short time. My dad just replaced a high volume pump on my uncle's 383 C.I. Duster and the engine was new (pump too). My cousin races and replaces his high volume pumps often to prevent failures. They pump lots of oil, but they occassionally fail. Change the pump to see if that is the problem. Good luck !

Answer 5

i have pretty much the same engine dood. mine only sits at 10 while idle hot in the summer.
flat top piston .030" over, 455 lift cam, edelbrock intake and i switched to 20W-50 castrol. helped a lil, but its the cam that sucks all the vacuum from my motor. it wont hurt it none.

Answer 6

3 thousands clearance was to much,you probably have 4-5 thousands now after initial start up

You should of went 1.5--2 on the clearance

Answer 7

thats weird... i did the same thing but i put the sbc in a wrangler... i kind of ahd the same problem, i eventuallly just had to change the oil pump and install a oil pan splash guard and that solved my problem

Answer 8

did you use assembly lube on all bearing serfices.if not theres youre prob.