In block oiling or push rod oiling for 68' 430 top end?

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by avmechanic, Nov 12, 2021.

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  1. thegr8david

    thegr8david Active Member

    I ran a ‘70 bottom end with ‘68 heads in my first GS. I used the ‘70 style lifters, pushrods, and gaskets, didn’t block any oil passages, just bolted it together and never had any oil trouble.
    Patrick[/QUOTE]

    Correct me if I'm wrong but in the 70 bottom end, the way I interpret that is a 70 block, correct. The 70 block didn't have the same oil passage to the head as the 68 so it would only be putting oil to the head through the lifter, right?
    The reason I'm asking is a shop that rebuilt my 69 400 used the new lifters from 70 to pass oil through the lifters and it's getting oil to the rockers through the heads also. Could this cause any oiling issues elsewhere or to much to the head?
     
    thegr8david, Apr 20, 2023
    #21
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    From Jim Weise's oil mods thread, post #8, repeated from my post #4 in this thread.

    https://v8buick.com/index.php?threads/400-430-455-block-id-prep-and-oiling-mods.214613/

    "When first developed, the 400/430 motors oiled the rockers thru two holes in the block, one in each deck surface, to corresponding holes in the heads. When the factory went to pushrod oiling in 1970, they eliminated the hole in the passenger side of the engine, but had to keep the one in the driver side, as this hole, on the other end of it, is the hole that allows oil to feed to the driver main galley, across the front cam bearing. Since drill bits make straight holes, we end up with a pressurized oil hole at the deck, that head gasket has to seal. No real problem with that at 45psi, but when you push the oil pressures up to 75+, it can leak oil out the head gasket."

    The head gasket you used likely blocked the LH deck hole. Did you have any seepage there?

    The holes in your 69 blocked by the head gasket? If not, you have more oil going to the head than necessary.
     
    Last edited: Apr 20, 2023
    LARRY70GS, Apr 20, 2023
    #22
  3. thegr8david

    thegr8david Active Member

    I"m not sure as of yet Larry, waiting for answers. They're ready to drop the engine in the Buick but I want them to wait until I get answers to what they've done.
    At this point I'm unsure if they even used the proper push rods. I'm afraid they used rods with 5/16 ball on the end. A few times now they've told me they can't get the proper parts but TA Performance has come through every time for me.
     
    thegr8david, Apr 23, 2023
    #23
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