Don't be so hard on the motor.

Probably the bearing is worn, but it's a guess. If you spin the oil pump, and can still hear the air coming inside the crankcase while providing oil pressure, probably there is no oil arriving at the bearing, or it is really worn, because with normal clearences the oil pressure acting on the bearing should seal the air passage to the crankcase with a oil film. At least you should hear some bubling. If not, I think the bearing is dry.

Túlio Lazzaroni "FORD", Florianópolis SC Brasil.

'74 Ford Galaxie 500 292 V8

'82 Ford Galaxie Landau 302 V8

'98 Chevrolet S10 4.3 V6

'01 Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec

Some may call me crazy, but I think this problem can be related to the oil feeding of the cam itself.

I agree with the point of the cam not having the groove would reduce a lot the oil flow, but I think it wouldn't be dry, at least some oil would make trough, and if one head is receiving oil, the cam is brobably not the culprit. At least that's what I could deduce, not having seeing the engine in person.

Túlio Lazzaroni "FORD", Florianópolis SC Brasil.

'74 Ford Galaxie 500 292 V8

'82 Ford Galaxie Landau 302 V8

'98 Chevrolet S10 4.3 V6

'01 Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec

I quess the oil holes in on the cam could be an issue with the drill turning the pump. Only problem is that there was no oil flow after I started the motor too.

So, is it that the cam bearing is so worn that the oil will not have enough pressure to get up to the heads because of too much clearance on the cam bearing? Or is it clogged? Or can you even quess without taking it apart?

Is it time to cut bait and just yank the motor or sell the boat?

1959 Century Resorter 16' 312 Ford w/velvet drive trans

Just a thought-if the camshaft is cross drilled for oil and not grooved oil will not flow unless the oil passage in the cam lines up with the oil passage up to the head.I believe this statement is correct.If you are only spinning the oil pump without turning the motor over try bumping it a little and then try the oil pump again.Turning it over a little may be enough to align the oil passages.Hoosier-Am I correct in this suggestion?If you can hear air passing through the block oil should flow back up.If you have the distributor out when you bump themotor over you will need to reset the motor to TDC on compression to reinstall the distributor and get the rotor on #1 cylinder so you can restart it.Not  a major problem .Just wanted to point it out.

  

If you are hearing the air pressure escape via the cam bearing into the crankcase, then there is nothing to be gained by pulling the head, the passage is clear.  The valley cover will not give you access to anything significant to your problem.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

What are the chances of finding and repairing, the problem by removing the rt side head, and valley pan? Could it still be a clogged oil passage that can be accessed by removing the head? (this is an easy job on a boat)

1959 Century Resorter 16' 312 Ford w/velvet drive trans

There used to be outside oiler kits available as a band aid for this problem.  The kits had various fittings and 1/8" copper tubing to tap off the oil galley on the left side of the engine and run lines directly to the rocker shafts.  You could do something like that to the right side only.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Generally, with no oil to lube rockers etc then pushrod cups and adjusters start to wear out quickly as well as the rocker shafts/rocker arms, in saying that ,i have squirted oil over them and ran for quite a while in early days, obvious thing is to dismantle block and inspect for wear/ blockages etc. There have been a heap of suggestions and some succesfull fixes by other members here.

  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

Sorry to get back so late.

Update: Added a mecahnical oil gauge on a tee next to the original sender and new oil filter, cranked up the oil pump with a powerful drill. I got 40 to 50 psi on the gauge but no oil on the rt head. I pumped air and solvent into the head oil passage and could hear the air clear out any oil/solvent, then I cranked the drill again. Repeated this procedure at least 5 times. Still no oil.

So what is the next step? What do I risk if I run it? Obviously the rocker assembly, but what else? Is the cam toast? I know it is wishful thinking, but I have some hope that if I run it for a while it might clear up. If it doesn't start oiling the rt head will the motor fail catastrophicly? I do have oil pressure and flow in the rest of the motor. I can start and run the motor and the oil gauge reads 30psi min 45psi max (3000rpm)

Thanks for all the help.

1959 Century Resorter 16' 312 Ford w/velvet drive trans

Someone should mention the lifters are a "mushroom" type.The base is wider than the "body"and the only way to install or remove is from the bottom with the camshaft removed.They wont come out the top like most conventional lifters.With the cam removed and motor right side up they will literally fall out.