No oil to rockers?

Lyn Smith · 01-29-2025, 04:08 PM

Purchased a set of Comp hydraulic lifters and it is now getting some oil to the rockers. The difference between the two lifters is that the side oil hole is just a little higher on Comp parts. Thanks to all that sent suggestions.

Hacksaw · 01-29-2025, 04:38 PM

Wrong lifters? Spinning the drill CCW instead of CW?

1320racer · 01-29-2025, 04:40 PM

Rotate the crank. Also what drill? typically need a good 1/2” electric drill

Stan Weiss · 01-29-2025, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lyn Smith

Have a 283 street engine in my 63 Nova cruiser. Just changed the cam and lifters and I'm getting no oil to the rockers. Have tried priming it multiple times. Usually even if you don't get a steady stream out of the push rods you will get a few bubbles when priming with the drill and dummy distributor. Have the engine on my run in stand. Have started the engine and run it for 30 seconds. Has 60lbs oil pressure but no oil to the pushrods. Any ideas?

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1320racer

Rotate the crank. Also what drill? typically need a good 1/2? electric drill

Stan

1320racer · 01-29-2025, 05:22 PM

He editted his original post 7 minutes after my reply adding that Info dumbazz

1legjerry · 01-29-2025, 05:50 PM

If all you did was change cam and lifters(nothing else) then I would say you got the wrong lifters. What year 283?

Have some work the drill and then turn the crank by hand at the same time.

1320racer · 01-29-2025, 06:00 PM

1legjerry…KNOWS

Kenney Kelley · 01-29-2025, 07:07 PM

Does your cam have the notch at the rear journal or does all Chevrolet cams have that? Did you by any chance put the 6 plugs in the block to far? When you primed the block did you remove the 1/8" pipe plug in front of the block to see if you are getting oil up front, if so it might be what the other Gentlemen have said about the lifters or have you run a wire down through the push rods? I know this is basic knowledge and I know you probably have built alot of Chevy Motors in your life time but you were asking for suggestions.

01-29-2025, 08:16 PM

Remove the intake, prime it, does the oil exit bottom of the lifter heavily? If so the lifter is wrong .

curtis reed · 01-30-2025, 08:45 AM

This may sound crazy but I have seen it. Did you look at the lifters to make sure they all have the oil hole drilled in the band?

01-29-2025, 04:08 PM	#1
Lyn Smith VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Pontiac,il. Posts: 1,176 Likes: 265 Liked 931 Times in 182 Posts	No oil to rockers? Purchased a set of Comp hydraulic lifters and it is now getting some oil to the rockers. The difference between the two lifters is that the side oil hole is just a little higher on Comp parts. Thanks to all that sent suggestions. Last edited by Lyn Smith; 02-01-2025 at 12:29 PM.

01-29-2025, 04:38 PM	#2
Hacksaw Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 874 Likes: 187 Liked 299 Times in 167 Posts	Re: No oil to rockers? Wrong lifters? Spinning the drill CCW instead of CW?

01-29-2025, 05:50 PM	#6
1legjerry Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 81 Likes: 4 Liked 72 Times in 15 Posts	Re: No oil to rockers? If all you did was change cam and lifters(nothing else) then I would say you got the wrong lifters. What year 283? Have some work the drill and then turn the crank by hand at the same time.

01-29-2025, 07:07 PM	#8
Kenney Kelley Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cocoa Florida Posts: 204 Likes: 174 Liked 70 Times in 35 Posts	Re: No oil to rockers? Does your cam have the notch at the rear journal or does all Chevrolet cams have that? Did you by any chance put the 6 plugs in the block to far? When you primed the block did you remove the 1/8" pipe plug in front of the block to see if you are getting oil up front, if so it might be what the other Gentlemen have said about the lifters or have you run a wire down through the push rods? I know this is basic knowledge and I know you probably have built alot of Chevy Motors in your life time but you were asking for suggestions.

01-29-2025, 08:16 PM	#9
Barry Polley Guest Posts: n/a	Re: No oil to rockers? Remove the intake, prime it, does the oil exit bottom of the lifter heavily? If so the lifter is wrong .

01-30-2025, 08:45 AM	#10
curtis reed Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kiefer, Ok. Posts: 165 Likes: 61 Liked 125 Times in 59 Posts	Re: No oil to rockers? This may sound crazy but I have seen it. Did you look at the lifters to make sure they all have the oil hole drilled in the band?