BBC upper end oil issues and noises

[Leadfoot]

Yes, you do need a high volume pump with that oiler. Here's the contact info for the BBC oiler manufacturer in case you want to ask him some questions. I talked to him before I purchased the kit, and he was very helpful. IIRC, his name is Bob Cheverny??

B.C. Engineering
4148 South 17th Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501
970-243-5438

OffRoad.com used to have a whole page detailing the install, but it appears to be gone.

First off (Milodon Tech Support SUCKS!!!!!!!!)
Second, I just got off the phone with Bob Cheverny....Great guy

He gave me a bunch of information on the oiling of the BBC. He even went into the history of 396's having issues with distributors blocking oil passages and how shimming a distributor up to tight can cause problems, etc. etc. He was very pleasant and took his time even though he really didn't have to. He said it sounds like I may have bad lifters or over adjusted lifters as well as he does not recommend fast bleed lifters in a BBC due to the fact the BBC doesn't push as much oil to the top end as an SBC anyways and needs all the help it can get.

Bob was not in yesterday, so I decided to call Milodon (as they manufacture the pump that I bought). The gentleman in tech support was very short and basically said I had an incorrectly installed cam bearing and I'm SOL and end of story.

I repeatedly told him the motor had been run before and it was fine, and he basically said no.....

Well I have a few more things to try. I may have to pull it apart and get new lifters though...


I'll keep you posted.

 

[justinf]

Sorry to hear you are still having problems, I just got your pm tonight, haven't been on here much the last couple of weeks.

Like you said earlier, my first guess as to the problem would be the lifters, since it sat for so long, and it was running great when I pulled it. After that the oil pump, but I doubt it is the oil pump since it is a high volume, high pressure.

As far as the suggestions about wrong cam bearings, I don't think that is the case since this was in another running truck before I sold it. If the cam bearings were installed incorrectly, it would have shown up before this.

 

[diesel4me]

well...

I read somewhere the BBC motors had troubles with the lifter gallery oil passage getting "airbound"and the lifters would clatter,and possibly trash the cam lobes..and they suggested drilling small holes in oil gallery plugs,located somewhere under the timing chain area,to help alleviate the problem..

I'm not sure where I read it,it might be in the "How To Hotrod The BBC" book in my shop..my "How To REBUILD Your BBC" book mentions nothing..so I'm assuming its only a problem when the oiling system has been upgraded or modified with a HV or HP pump,etc..

I'll see if I can dig up where I read it..did either guy at the tech helpline say anything about that???..

 

[K30CJ]

The whole point of the "cam oiler" is to solve the problem with the cam lobes not getting sufficient lubrication. I had a friend lose a cam in his BBC to this issue. That's why, while planning to build this engine, I investigated a solution and chose the oiler from BCE.

IMHO, you guys are making this more difficult than necessary. Install new lifters. Most likely, it will solve the problem. They sat a long time, regardless of how much the oil pump was spun during this time. It's just not the same as running the engine.

Stand the new lifters up in a container and submerge them in oil for a day or more before installing them. You'll see air bubbles working their way out. Use the same oil you'll be using in the engine. Adjust them with the engine running. Messy, but worth it.

 

[Leadfoot]

I read somewhere the BBC motors had troubles with the lifter gallery oil passage getting "airbound"and the lifters would clatter,and possibly trash the cam lobes..and they suggested drilling small holes in oil gallery plugs,located somewhere under the timing chain area,to help alleviate the problem..

I'm not sure where I read it,it might be in the "How To Hotrod The BBC" book in my shop..my "How To REBUILD Your BBC" book mentions nothing..so I'm assuming its only a problem when the oiling system has been upgraded or modified with a HV or HP pump,etc..

I'll see if I can dig up where I read it..did either guy at the tech helpline say anything about that???..

Neither one did. The guy from Milodon was not very helpfull or even sounding like he wanted to. He basically just said incorrectly installed cam bearings and offered no more. I believe JustinF and his brother that the motor ran fine, and Bob from B. C. Engineering was very helpful in trying to diagnose.

I'm at the point where I am just going to pull the intake, and replace the lifters (which are noisy and not getting much oil to the top end), the problem with that is IF it's not the lifters, I am going to be trying to break them in (2000 rpms for 15 minutes) with low oil volume and that can't be good......

I'm not sure what to do at this point.....

 

[Leadfoot]

IMHO, you guys are making this more difficult than necessary. Install new lifters. Most likely, it will solve the problem. They sat a long time, regardless of how much the oil pump was spun during this time. It's just not the same as running the engine.

Stand the new lifters up in a container and submerge them in oil for a day or more before installing them. You'll see air bubbles working their way out. Use the same oil you'll be using in the engine. Adjust them with the engine running. Messy, but worth it.

Sorry for making an issue of it. I just don't want to ruin the motor doing something stupid.

I am buying new lifters and am planning to swap them out the 1st or 2nd week in February. As stated, my only fear is if there is a "new" issue with the motor and there is not enough lifter lubrication (for whatever reason), I will be trying to break in a new set of lifters with low lube (which can't be good). I am trying to do a little research first in order to make sure I did not miss anything obvious or that someone has come across before (one reason I love the internet).

As for adjusting the valves when running, I have done it before on SBC's numerous times. I have found cutting the tops off a set of stock valve covers and welding a "shield" (piece of sheet metal) on the bottom edge and rolling it around to the sides works great to allow enough room to adjust the valves and keep the oil from dripping down or splashing on the exhaust from the moving rockers.

I have already gotten a set for a BBC from a fellow member and cut the tops off (that's how we checked the motor while running last weekend). I didn't have time make the "shield" portion for them, but didn't need to as the oil barely flowed on the rockers and never "splashed". I will have them made for adjusting the valves after I break in the new lifters.

I'll keep you posted.

 

[HarryH3]

Too late now, since you already cut the tops off, but an even better setup is to use a hole saw and cut 8 holes right over the adusters. That really helps keep the oil inside the engine.

 

[Leadfoot]

Too late now, since you already cut the tops off, but an even better setup is to use a hole saw and cut 8 holes right over the adusters. That really helps keep the oil inside the engine.

Story of my life....
A day late and a dollar short.

Good tip though, I will keep it in mind for the future.

 

[76zimmer]

Try an oil pump primer to see if your getting good oil flow to the lifter galleys with the lifters out. If so, take the lifters apart (snap ring) check for debris, reassemble, and put them in a coffee can of oil, and use a push rod to plunge them a few times to fill them with oil, then put them in the bores, and prime again with the oil pump primer. see what you get at the pushrods top end, and oil pressure at the sender on the block.
Some people have drilled small holes in the oil galley plugs to .030 or so to oil the timing chain.