Wierd one, After sitting up for a month cranked my Camaro,(455 buick), up and gauge showed no oil pressure. Checked the oil, still full. Started again and ran for few seconds. Pressure went up erratically, in jumps, to 50 psi, a little low but not much, at idle went down to 25psi. Turned off engine and gauge stays at 25 for a while and slowly drops. I have replaced the gauge (mechanical), line, oil, and filter. still does this. I have not let the engine heat up, been afraid to. Seems that something is stopped up, but if oils not getting through the cam bearings, should'nt pressure should be pegged at the bypass (about 65 psi normally at startup) ? Has anyone seen this before ? Any help is appreciated, thanks for reading,, engine has : 72 block and heads high pressure gears and booster plate 10-40 oil ta grooved cam bearings
Check the relief valve in the oil pump cover. Make sure the spring is intact, and the valve moves freely in the bore. Hi Volume/High Pressure oil pump gears are not a good idea. They put alot of stress on the timing chain, front cam bearing, cam and distributor gears. Pull your distributor out, and look at the gears while your at it. There is absolutely no reason for the HV/HP pumps anymore.
