New HD rocker assemblies now high oil pressure

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by B-rock, Apr 30, 2018.

  1. B-rock

    B-rock Well-Known Member

    I installed a set of the TA HD rocker assemblies on my 71 455. I’m now getting 65 psi oil pressure cold and hot??? Unfortunately I sealed up the valve covers with “the great stuff” rtv sealant because I didn’t expect any issues. I removed all the pushrods and blew them out prior to installing the new rockers. I’m assuming there is a problem at the rocker and pushrod area. I removed the breather and can only see a very small amount of oil.

    I’m now questioning myself if the rockers had an oil hole in them??

    Or am I completely wrong ???
     
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    No, I can’t see how new rocker assemblies could affect oil pressure. If your cold and hot pressures are the same, it is more likely a gauge problem.
     
    john.schaefer77 likes this.
  3. B-rock

    B-rock Well-Known Member

    It don’t make any sense to me either. The gauge appears to be working properly in every way. I’m hearing a knock and the water temp seemed to have climbed pretty fast

    obviously there is something I’m not seeing.

    I pulled the rocker shafts.
    Pulled all the pushrods one by one and blew them out.
    Pulled spark plugs
    Performed leak down test since the rockers and plugs were out. No air escaped the intake or exhaust. Only pest the rings.
    Assembled and installed new TA HD rockers
    Installed new spark plugs.
    The only thing I can think of is the rockers not letting oil up the pushrods??? This might increase oil pressure?? When I have time today I will pull the valve covers off and inspect.
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The lifters bleed some oil into the lifter plunger cup through a hole in the cup. Then it goes up the push rod and through the hole in the stamped rocker arm. That is the tail end of the oiling system. The lifters get their oil right from the lifter galleys, and the lifters are a much bigger restriction to oil flow then the push rods and rocker arms. You have something else going on. You should not be hearing a knock if you have proper oil pressure. Normally, oil pressure starts off high 70 psi, and then as the engine and oil warms up, pressure drops off. That is normal. If you aren't seeing any drop off in oil pressure at all, that is very suspect to me, especially since you stated that the coolant temperature seems to rise very quickly. A bad water pump can make a knocking sound. Take a look at the water pump pulley. What happens is the water pump bearing goes, that causes the shaft and pulley to wobble, and that kills the seal and it leaks out of the weep hole. It can make a knocking noise as well.

    I think you are wasting your time taking the valve covers off. Sounds like you have other problems. Verify your oil pressure.
     
  5. B-rock

    B-rock Well-Known Member

    I agree with what you say. And being I sealed up the valve covers with “great stuff” I really don’t want to clean all that up again. Stranger things have happened but it be quite a coincidence that something else failed at the same time. It was running great the day before I did all this! I’m sure I’ll laugh about it. Water pump is a good idea.
     
  6. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    The knocking noise could be a rocker arm contacting the valve cover. I had that happen on a bone stock sbc once. Start it and feel the valve covers.

    How long did you run it before you determined it was hot? It takes forever for the oil to get to operating temp just idling. Run it around the block. The coolant will heat up much faster than the oil.

    Why did you switch the rockers anyway? Some sort of failure?
     
  7. BUICKRAT

    BUICKRAT Got any treats?

    How does the oil look?

    sounds like something else happened at the same time, or your motor has the best oil pressure of any Buick motor ever built.

    gauge issue?

    If you have a lot of coolant in the oil, your gauge readings may be correct.
     
  8. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Can you post a good quality video?
    Rockers will clack
    Lifters usually will tick
    A knocking is usually a main bearing:eek:
     
  9. TA Perf

    TA Perf Member

    Interesting, never seen or heard this before.


    I learned years ago, Never say Never.
     
  10. BQUICK

    BQUICK Gold Level Contributor

    Maybe cam bearing failure if drivers side noisy.....
     

Share This Page