HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

So we finshed up my head swap tonight, added TSP stg 2.5 5.3 heads with LS7 Lifters. Started it up was alil noisy at first but quieted down pretty quick. Runs just fine but I have less oil pressure for some reason. I usually have about 39-42 lbs at idle and about 50 just cruisin. After I let it warm up I took it on like a 5-10 mile trip and noticed I only had about 40-42 psi driving and 28-30 at idle now. What could be goin on here? Oil is full and clean.

BLACK2001SS

I just put new heads on and noticed that my oil pressure was higher than normal but I did put in Valvoline 10w 30 a change from 5w 30 that might be worth a shot but you are still in operating range so your safe.

BLACK2001SS

also check the gague and sending unit out just to be shure. hook up another gague just to see if you are reading right.

miller456

iTrader: (36)

you said the oil is full and clean... Did you change the oil and filter after the swap or just check it? I know after doing my head swap when taking the head off coolant will come out and get inside and after a few miles of driving will turn the oil milky b/c the coolant mixture. If you havent changed the oil and filter that would be my first recommendation, then check your pressure sending unit as they seem to be weak and easily broken.

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

Oil is clean not milky at all. Turn for the worst...had to cut my exhaust right after the collector so went to go to exhaust shop to get that welded up. After about 15 min of driving there I notice at the stop lights my oil pressure is now getting lower and lower until it got to about 25psi. I figure this is nuts so I get ready to pull into a parking lot and all the sudden it looses most of its power I pull into the closest parking lot and it just dies. Check oil everything is fine except theres like steam or smoke coming from the dip stick. went to start it back up and cranked really slow and didnt want to stay running then started chaddering and making this loud like knocking sound. While waiting for a tow I pulled the valve covers and all the rockers are on and tight. got it home and I can get it to start but it has a hard time starting and something is making a loud tapping/knocking sound. WTH happened????????

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

Also to keep it running at an idle I have to give it some gas or it just wants to die.

miller456

iTrader: (36)

hope its not the problem but it sounds like a rod bearing which means rebuild time. Another stupid question but did u make sure to tighten and check the ground wires in the back of the head to make sure they are tight? I forgot to do this and it made my car buck and die and oil pressure gauge to go haywire.

3.4camaro

iTrader: (1)

Change the oil and filter. The oil is nasty, but may not seem it just by looking at the dipstick. The filter is clogged with nasty graphite gasket, which will lower your oil pressure significantly. My oil pressure was WAY lower after my head swap. Changed the oil twice, and it's back to normal. Been that way for 6000 miles.

Hope this helps.

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

was it making any noises from the engine like chaddering/knocking sounds?

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

anyone??? this is drivin me nuts

mvvette97

iTrader: (18)

pull the oil filter off and cut it open. If it's full of gasket crap then I would say the filter was plugged.

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

anything on this ppl?

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

You mean you were running with no exhaust past the collector?

I say you burnt up a head or warped it.

DaddySS

It doesn't sound promising. Was the temperature OK? Pull the drain plug and see if you get any clues from the oil. Turn it over by hand - is it tight?

99TransAmLS16Spd

iTrader: (8)

Like DaddySS said, try turning it over by hand, drain the oil and check the plug. Do remember what the temp gauge was reading?

can you verify where the sounds is coming from? i.e. bottem end or top. This is just a shot in the dark, but if the oil pump went bad (or had old gasket clogging the oil system somewhere as previously stated), could that cause the lifters to collapse and possibly cause the sound you're hearing? Which could maybe trip the knock sensor causing the loss of power? Maybe it's wishful thinking. I hope it's not a bad bearing man.

Good luck,
Roy

heavymetals, WTF are you talking about!?!?! I seriously doubt he warped a head. He's got LTs to begin with, so sucking air back into the head from the exhuast would be unlikely, and very minimal at most. And I think the car would run richer if the open headers were effecting the O2 readings. Further more, a warped head would probably cause the head gasket to fail thus causing coolant in oil which he does not have.

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

Yes temp was normal. Guess after work today I'll pull the filter and drain the oil and check the plug...

miller456

iTrader: (36)

When you pull that filter and plug(if magnetic) check for metal shavings as well, hope u dont have any or u got some bad news coming most likely.

HottLS1Z

iTrader: (5)

Running exhaust through LT's wont do that. the exhaust has nothing to do with it

BLACK2001SS

LIke said above make shure your power supply is good recheck all your connection. Was it throwing any codes ?? If a plug wire was off that can make your car run like total crap if it more than one a knocking sound can happen.

But normaly you would have seen somthing in your gagues a SES code for a missfire somthing of that nature. DID you see your temp didnt spike or your voltage didnt drop or act erratic?
yeah warped head is not going to be from the exhaust, but if you didnt torque the head or over torqued it you can warped it.

heavymetals

iTrader: (3)

now the original post has deleted the information as to wether he drove it or not.

I would check preload on the lifters.

Amazing what proper preload will do to the oil pressure.