Oiling issue.

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by Wildhair, Mar 30, 2021.

  1. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    I’m having some issues with the 455 in my dads sand rail, he passed away in January and he was the one I would go to with problems on these engines so I need your help.

    The engine has plenty of oil pressure like 4o psi, warm at idle. But I have a lifter tick on more than one lifter and nothing coming out of the pushrod for the first 5 minutes of warm up. Then only a trickle out of them even at 2500 rpm. Seems like a flow problem to me but I’m not sure where to start.
     
  2. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    Yes for sure drivers side but sounds like both.
     
  3. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    Would I still get oil to the passenger side with Bad front cam bearing? I’ll pull the valve cover and check the passenger side tomorrow.
     
  4. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    Can they be replaced without machining the block.
     
  5. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    I appreciate you help thank you.
     
  6. Bigpig455

    Bigpig455 Fastest of the slow....

    The cam bearing thing is legit and may be your issue, but first I would pull the lifter(s) and pushrod that arent oiling and clean them - get the pushrod so you can see straight through it and break down the lifter and make sure theres no debris blocking the passages. Its simple and free, and you may just save yourself a teardown. However, if its the entire bank then,,,,
     
  7. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    Thanks, I’ll pull the valve covers tomorrow and see what’s going on.
     
  8. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    HOW GREAT can ANY forum be. You asked a question not even an hour ago & you ALREADY have numerous answers.

    Tom T.
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  9. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    Best forum I’ve been on in a long time.
     
  10. patwhac

    patwhac Well-Known Member

    I know it's a 350 but here's a video of me replacing the cam bearings without touching the rest of the rotating assembly:



    I'm not sure if the same is possible on a 455, I'd think it depends on your cam bearing tool. It might be skinny enough to get in between the rods like mine if you end up doing just the bearing!
     
    Max Damage likes this.
  11. Waterboy

    Waterboy Mullet Mafia since 6/20

    You said you have a 455 in a Sandrail? Please please please, I want pictures! I bet other people would like some pictures too. Please please please! I have a Sandrail but it just has a measly 1600 cc, pretty much stock engine in it. It is fun driving it on the street.
     
  12. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Sorry to hear of the loss to your family, I lost my father little over a year ago and it has flipped my world upside down.

    The cam bearing is likely an great issues, especially if its most or all the rockers on that side.

    The bearings should be able to be replaced without machining the block, but can't say one way or another if they can be changed without pulling the rotating assembly.........not sure I would take the chance even if it could.........those bearings are just a press fit so the act on driving them in could leave some debris to float around if you can't get in there to clean it.


    I would guess you should be able to pull the intake and the front lifter from number 2 cylinder.......run the oil pump by drill and see exactly how much oil flow your getting to that side. If it appears a decent amount you can just pop lifter father down the line and see where your loosing the flow.

    The spring pressure on the valves help push the cam down into those bearings.....the oil entery location angle from the factory doesn't allow enough oil to fully lift and support the cam all the way around, when we step up spring pressures with bigger cams this just makes the issue worse. I've seen them have such a groove its hard to even get the cam out. This pressure basiclly smears the bearing and basicly the hole to feed the lifters on the other side gets plugged up.......all the cam bearings share this issue in the motor but only the front one feeds the lifters.

    Ta's background bearing does provide a fix as well as provide addition oil entery hole in an extra location to help lift and support the cam on a cushion of oil which also helps prevent wear. But that groove in the back does take area away from bearing surface to block so there is that too.

    Another fix is to groove the block and drill to holes in regular bearings.......but this is far more expensive than the TA bearing set
     
  13. Jim Weise

    Jim Weise EFI/DIS 482

    Could be front cam bearing.. here is how to check for sure, without taking off more than a valve cover and the intake..

    Remove the intake and driver side valve cover, rocker arm, and pushrod/lifter from number one Exhaust..

    With room time oil (thinner the better) run the oil pump via the distrib hole with the proper tool, while watching that that empty front lifter bore. It should flow fairly steadily into the galley and down the lifter bore on number 1 exhaust. if there is just a trickle, or non at all, then the cam has worn into the front bearing, and is restricting the flow.

    I used to change the Front cam bearing on our cars back in the late 80's about once a season.. this is pre TA bearing by the way.. I would do it in the car, with just the removal of the intake manifold to grab the old bearing as it is coming out, and then the front cover to remove the cam and access the front bearing.

    Never had a bearing tool till a few years later, I actually used to use a old Stage 1 intake valve that was turned to be just a few thou under the OD of the bearing. Easy to push out, a bit more tricky to line up going in, it's much easier with a cam bearing tool.. there are many on the market, some that are rather inexpensive.. just make sure it will fit our cam bearings ID is 1.785 or so.

    Instead of putting in another bearing that in time will just wear into the cam, let's fix the problem.. Call TA and order one bearing from the 1559 set. That bearing has a back groove on it, that eliminates this problem.

    When installing a new TA bearing, from the face of the block it should measure about .125 for the right depth.. measure it in several areas around the bearing to be sure it is in square.. if not, give it a little tap to square it up..
     
  14. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    Thanks for all your help. Here is the rail it’s in.
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Wildhair

    Wildhair Member

    This is my daily driver C30 with a 455 in it as well.
     

    Attached Files:

    Mark Demko, johnriv67 and patwhac like this.
  16. Buicksky

    Buicksky Gold Level Contributor

    Dang that looks fun sitting still, Cant imagine it on the sand or the street!
     
  17. Andrew Sury

    Andrew Sury Well-Known Member

    I have absolutely nothing to add besides I'm in love with your dads rail.
     
  18. LARRY70GS

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

    Nice, Stage1 aluminum heads, and SP1 intake. Must be a fun ride.
     
  19. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Cool pics!
    Sorry for your loss also:(
     

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