I'm clueless

[John Pasinski]

I've posted several times about the problem I'm having w/ my 402 engine. I've received a lot of great suggestions. But everything so far has been fruitless. Before I scrap this engine (and maybe sell the truck); I'm gonna try once more. I overhauled the engine. New rings, crank, new crank bearings, RV cam, lifters, timing chain & gear, new oil pump, I think that's it. I am unable to get the #1 exhaust lifter to pump any oil whatsoever to the rocker. It will go up the push rod, but not into the rocker. I put an oil guage in line and ran the pump w/ a drill. The guage showed 40#. I removed the plug at the front of the engine, and ran a rod straight through the lifter bore oil gallery to the rear of the engine to make doubly sure there was no blockage. All other rockers are receiving oil just fine. Yes, I have checked the push rod & rocker, both are clean as a whistle. I even swapped the exhaust w/ the intake lifter to R/O a defective lifter. When I swapped them, that exhaust lifter pumped fine in the intake bore. The intake lifter, then was NOT pumping in the exhaust bore! That proves the lifter is good. I do not "feel" excessive slop in the exhaust bore, so I don't think it's a worn lifter bore. Although I don't have the bore specs to really check that. Would the valve spring (maybe it's too weak?) have anything to do w/ the lifter's effectiveness in pumping oil? I have no more straws to grasp, no more ideas. Is it possible there was some kind of TSB (service bulletin) on this problem 37 years ago? As of this posting, I have not been able to locate any engine builders here in Orlando. This engine is the the textbook definition of insanity. "DOING THE SAME THING REPEATEDLY; WHILE EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS". I appologize for the lengthy question; but this truck's life depends on a solution.