mint80

I have an '80 with 12k original miles, and had a clicking noise in the right side valve cover that went away after reving it up. I took off the valve cover to find no oil coming out of the rockers at idle. I read about a possible bad FRAM oil filter and changed it and that did not fix the problem. The shop manual states that it may be a stuck check ball in the oil pump. I'm reluctant to change the oil pump until I have exhausted all options. Any ideas?

comp

put a mech. oil pressure gauge on it, did it look sludgie in the valve cover ???

mint80

I picked up a mechanical gauge today and did not hook it up yet. When I took off the valve cover it was spotless. Even when I shined a light through the holes in the headf into the lifter gallery, it was clean.

comp

and you got oil on one side and not the other?

comp

has the dist. been removed or moved ??

mint80

I only checked one side so far because the noise was on that side. FYI, the oil pressure from the stock gauge shows 30+ lbs. of pressure and 40 when reving.

comp

check other side something may have come loose and is blocking oil galley

mint80

Just wondering what could have come loose and cause that from a 12K motor?

comp

Oh my.... you'd best get to looking, i'd hate to think it was a cam

Schmucker

It may have 12,000 miles on it, but it's still 23 years old.

mint80

Both good points. I keep thinking a crate motor or a rebuild starts to sound good.

comp

Don't give up that easy.....

mint80

you're right. I'll check the other side.

comp

let me know, and don't get upset yet

71coupe

It's not uncommon for the pickup to work out of the oil pump (the tube can crack too, which will suck air)

MotorHead

You stated you have 30psi at idle that means your oil pressure is OK. If you say no oil is coming out then is it dry on top of the head ( under the cover )? Only a slight trickle will come out at idle on top of the rocker so if it is not dry under the cover then you are alright.

comp

my engine;s idle so much they would wear out the
valve train in a few weeks

Turbo-Jet

you have 30 psi showing at idle??

maybe the lifters are plugged up? maybe the check ball in each lifter is stuck.

did you keep the old filter? cut it open and look for sludge, loose fibers, metal etc...

mountainmotor

If the engine idle is low , the motor cold your not going to see much oil pumped up top . You did not say if it was the entire bank or just one lifter /cylinder but along those years were some bad cams . Tick at idle is a precursor to a flat lobe .

What brand , viscosity are you using ?

I would get some Lubegard Engine flush direct from Lubegard.com , use as directed then adjust all the lifters while hot and drive a bit to see if the tick goes away . Thats is if certain it's not a cam going flat and or bent pushrod .

Your oil pump sounds fine still FWIW .