Low oil pressure, new engine

[Tomfury68]

Has anyone had problems with the empi autolinea bubble top cases? I am trying to figure out a low oil pressure issue. Tried swapping oil relief springs and valves, oil pumps, even a 32mm pump. Had 75psi with a 26mm pump during cam break in, fluctuated to 0 a few times but figured it was low oil volume in sump. Put the engine in the car to break rings in, 20 miles on engine revved it to 4500 rpm and the oil light came on when i got home. I put a guage on it and had 0 psi at idle and 25psi max at 3500 rpm. I finally tore the engine down to inspect the bearings and everything looked great. Its a 90.6 x76 with cb performance heads , full flowed with pump and case outlet plugged. Ive never had a problem like this before. I've built several engines before this one just has me stumped. Thanks for any help, thinking it might be the case, Maybe something in the case blew out

[HBRag]

Is the oil pickup tube tight and sealed. The tube is normally swedged where it meets the oil galley, when installed.

[jbbugs]

I find on most of the Autolinia cases, that the oil holes feeding the main bearings seldom line up well with the oil grooves in the bearings.
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[Tomfury68]

I checked the pick up tube and seemed that it was in good and tight. Is there any way to pressure check it or seal the tube. I ordered an oringed pump so the me to tear it down again. Ill double check the oil holes for the bearings again. Any internal leaks i should look for and signs, cracks to look for?

[MitchS046]

are there any internal leaks from oil channels to the sump? or maybe even restrictions in those channels
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[nsracing]

so you swapped out oil pumps? plural? and the same low to zero pressure?

WEll, don't you think the problem is not the oil pump?

And what exactly did you use for plungers and springs? The oiling system is not that complicated. - [post pics]

[Tomfury68]

Yeah i know that its a simple system, i had a few oil pumps and figured that case fitment was a possible issue, worth a try to rule out, right? Asking about other internal failure points since i tried a few pimps. Im not new at this, just this particular problem. Just asking for experienced opinions

[vwinnovator]

check the pressure relief valve to bore tolerances

[Tomfury68]

Tore the engine down again and air checked it. Found a hole in an oil galley next to the number 2 bearing where it has been factory clearenced. Hopefully the place i purchased it from will warranty it. Explains why i had oil pressure at first start up, aluminum was too thin and blew out.

[FreeBug]

Nice catch! But that really sucks...I hope you get satisfaction.

[txoval]

Can you post a picture?

[nsracing]

love to see where this hole is too.

[Chickensoup]

x3 on the picture please
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-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[Tomfury68]

I posted a pic

[Chickensoup]

Do you think the thin material blew out as the engine ran or was it machined like this? Well, it is aluminum, and it shouldn't be too hard to get a welder down there. Why would they produce a case with such thin walls?
_________________
-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[modok]

It was probably paper thin and blew out.

Many stock mag cases actually have an aluminum sleeve in that oil passage.
Possibly were porosity problems in that area.

[Chickensoup]

Now you got to find them shavings and clean the case are you gonna weld the case?
_________________
-'85 c10 5.3 LS, 222 cam, long tubes, x pipe, 3 inch spin tech's
-'05 B5.5 TDI Wagon 17in sport rims ;EGR + BSM + ASV Delete, Stage-2 Tune, straight pipe
'65 Tourist Delivery Build
'66 RIP
'69 RIP
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

[mark tucker]

eye woodent just weld it. or if I did I would remachine the hole over a tad... or make sure the clearancing does not need be that far over and redrill the hole., none of my autolina cases look like that machining. you sure it's factory machining? is it a bubble top case?? it could just be sleved. many engines had issues like this ford had a production rin of 427 " race" blocks that needed sleeving, Ive sleeved pushrod holes in heads to move the pushrod over for bigger port. Ive seen many blocks with some sort of issue...some mfg effups, some defective person or machine shop...or just ax a dent tail leaving out a internal gally plug. witch is somewhat common when all plugs are pulled by shop for cleaning&machining then the owner/asselbler dont know there is a plug that go's there.... some are down in a gally that redirects the oil, leave it out and filter is bypassed...and bearings die a horriffic death with full oil pressure...

[67rustavenger]

In the interest of learning.
Is there an oil galley in that location between the cylinder spigots?
From working on these engines. I don't recall there being one there.
Not that it makes the hole any better.
Just curious.

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[Chickensoup]