RE: IML: Need help from a 318 oil system guru!! Saint Dick perhaps???? Mike?? HELP!

["Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've already responded to Jeff privately, but since his question was on the
IML also, I'll copy y'all with what I said, in case anyone else is
dissecting an LA block:

>>>Well, this is going to be a bit tough.  I've not had an LA block apart
since about 1997, so I'm not exactly fresh on the subject.  The first thing
I would check is to see that the rocker shaft supports on the suspect side
are assembled correctly.   It is possible that the oil passages that come up
through the support towers are somehow not in the right locations, or not
aligned properly.

The head on the right side of the engine gets it's oil through the second
from the rear rocker support tower, as it is supplied from the #4 cam
bearing.  The left side gets its oil from the #2 cam bearing, and it comes
up through the second from the front rocker tower.    I assume the "left"
side is the driver's side, but look at the other side to make sure I don't
have them backwards.  

Anyway the side that isn't getting oil must have the wrong tower installed
in the location with the oil passageway, or else the cam bearing has turned
in its bore and is blocking the feed hole.

Once oil is present in the rocker shaft, it is distributed through the shaft
and down the push rods to the lifters.

If the cam bearing on the right side were turned, the oil warning light
would be on, since that is in the right side gallery.  If you have the
original EFI computer, then that side must be OK, because the CCC will shut
the engine down immediately if it detects no oil pressure.  If the car has
been converted, that won't happen.

If the cam bearing on the left side were turned, you'd have exactly the
situation you describe, but having the tower in the wrong position would
also do that.

As for the oil pump, I can't see how it is involved here, assuming you've
checked the oil pressure with a real gauge.

As for the surface rust, assuming it will clean up easily, I'd try to clean
it out with some vinegar on a soft scrub (plastic, not metal) pot scrubber,
then spray some WD-40 on it until you can get the engine together and
running. I wouldn't just ignore it, because iron oxide is really hard, and
it will do some damage before it winds up in the oil filter sooner or later.

Good Luck, and let me know what you find out.  It's a shame you already
pulled the head, you probably didn't have to (but then you wouldn't have
known about the rust, I guess.

Dick Benjamin >>>>>.



---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by Declude Virus]



-----------------  http://www.imperialclub.com  -----------------
This message was sent to you by the Imperial Mailing List. Please 
reply to mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx and your response will be 
shared with everyone. Private messages (and attachments) for the
Administrators should be sent to webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To UN-SUBSCRIBE, go to http://imperialclub.com/unsubscribe.htm