Help!!!......Frustrated......

[Ivan D.]

Originally Posted by myersjeremy

It has maybe 15lbs of pressure at idle after it has warmed up. It has oil pressure, just not what I think a fresh rebuild should have.

A chevy small block wants at least 5psi before killing the bearings, so you're good. However, to make sure, warm up the engine, lay on the brakes, and throw it in gear, that'll bring the engine speed to as low as it can get, about 400rpms in case of my truck - if you still have 10+ pressure you'll be fine for a while.

Oh, and just as an idea - my 350 has a Melling high-volume (not high pressure) pump, runs on Rotella-T diesel oil (by recommendation from Melling), and normally pegs the gauge, the lowest I've seen the pressure is about 45-50psi while idling in gear at a looong red traffic light. Pump is supposed to crank out about 70psi so it all makes sense. On a fresh bottom end you should be seeing similar numbers, maybe a little lower but still over 30psi at warm idle in gear at a red light.