The motor is a pull-out from a 98 Camaro, reportedly with 63,XXX miles.I installed new main studs, ARP rod bolts and a new rear oil restrictor with a ported LS6 oil pump before putting it in the Chevelle. Oil pressure is 55 cold, 35-ish hot, oil pressure hits 70 psi at ~6000 rpms. I just got through upgrading my rockers with the new Comp upgrade kit. Whie tearing everything apart I noticed the rockers on the passengers side head were very "loose" (bearing clearance, not mounting). During disassembly all the bearing cups from the pass rockers fell apart during removal, I kinda of expected that. However when I got around to the driver's side I noticed that the rockers were "loose" but not nealy as bad and all of the bearing cups remained intact during the disassembly process. That got me to thinking that I might have an oiling problem on the passenger side. I removed the pass sied valve cover and started the engine and there was no oil flow initially, after a coupe minutes I saw oil start to ooze out of the #4 pushrod hole. I revved the engine to see if a little rpm would help, but it didnt, still no oil to the rest of the rockers. Anybody else have a problem like this ?

 

drivers side does it too, maybe it's normal I've never actually pulled the valve covers with the engine running.....oh well

 

someone correct me if I am wrong but IIRC the pass side gets oil last and often wont show any for a little while on initial startup. The other thing is the rockers are of course not pressurized and the bearings are flawed, hence the comp trunion upgrade which is what I would suggest for you if you are looking for replacement

 

I haven't run an LS engine with the valve covers off so I can't say for certain how long it takes for oil flow to start at the rockers.

What clearances did you measure at the mains and rods when you swapped in the new hardware?

And what oil brand/weight and filter are you running?

 

Pass side does get oil last, but the drivers side was doing the same thing.I only let it run for about 5 minutes with the valve covers off. Oil started slowly oozing (very slowly) out of a couple rockers on each side when I shut it off. I put new standard size bearings in when I had it apart, I think they were ~ 2.200. Using AC Delco filter and Rotella 15-40 HD oil. I just took it around the block, runs different, snappier throttle response and no more clackity clackity during hot idle.

 

come to think of it, I dont recall looking at the seal on the cam plate during the last cam swap....****

 

I tore into the front of the engine to remove the cam retainer plate to inspect the seal. Although the seal was intact with no damage, it was flat as a pancake. I ran the edge of a razor blade across the plate/seal surface and the blade only caught the seal in a few places. I'm guessing oil was bypassing the seal, there was no way it was fluid tight. I installed a new plate and the valvetrain is defininetly quieter and it seems I gained a few psi of oil pressure at idle and wot. I havent pulled the valve covers to do an oil flow check yet (for my own curiosity), maybe tomorrow. I guess checking the seal for integrity isnt good enough, replace the plate if you're doing a cam swap on a high mileage engine.

 

great to know! good find too

 

Did you have to buy the plate from the dealership? Autozone don't seems to have it.

 

found it on Ebay. It was a Victor-Reinz product.

 

brand new from dealer was $25 by me

 

Cam retainer plate GM P/N 12589016