I've got a 304 that's showing poor oil pressure. (I think, I'm going by the stock gauge) I'm going to try a different gauge to confirm. But my question is if I need cam bearings, can I just replace them, or would it be stupid to pull the motor and just do cam bearings and not a whole rebuild.
Need some advice
- Thread starter Maughan
- Start date
jeff campbell
Active member
Would really depend on what the rest of the motor looked like.mainly bearings..then the cylinders.Jeff
The reason I asked is because I've read quite a bit on this forum, and I have seen a few times to expect 4-5k to rebuild one of these motors. I just can't afford that. I also have never rebuilt one before so I'm a little apprehensive to do it myself. So I thought maybe I could just try the cam bearings and see if I could get away with that.
I guess I should give a little more info on the motor. 1968 304. It runs good, no lifter noise after 5 to 10 seconds of startup. No blue smoke while running, except for a little puff at hot start up. Seems to have good power. If it were not for the low reading at the gauge, I would have no problems. I just don't want to make it worse.
I'm going to try another gauge to make sure the reading is right.
I'm going to try another gauge to make sure the reading is right.
jeff campbell
Active member
Get a good gauge then report back to what it reads,also how old is the oil ? Been changed lately ? May even want to do a compression check after you get a oil pressure reading. I rebuilt my 392-.030,& 727 for close to $3k.did most of the work myself.Jeff
Should have added this. It's late and I'm just forgetting things. A year ago I pulled the pan to replace the gasket and found some cam bearing material in the oil
bummer. Even after that I was seeing oil pressure that ran in the normal range. It just recently dropped noticeably, particularly when it's hot.
bummer. Even after that I was seeing oil pressure that ran in the normal range. It just recently dropped noticeably, particularly when it's hot.Should have added this. It's late and I'm just forgetting things. A year ago I pulled the pan to replace the gasket and found some cam bearing material in the oil bummer. Even after that I was seeing oil pressure that ran in the normal range. It just recently dropped noticeably, particularly when it's hot.
bummer. Even after that I was seeing oil pressure that ran in the normal range. It just recently dropped noticeably, particularly when it's hot.I had cam bearing troubles with the 392 in my 73 1210 at about 180,000 mi. I knew it was having trouble as the oil pressure was getting lower all the time, it finally took a tooth off the cam gear. All the cam bearings were shot, and the front one was the same as gone. We pulled it down, put in a cam, lifters, cam bearings, rod and mains. It now has 330,000 mi. On it and has never had the heads off. I don't think the sv engines are hard on the cam bearings, I just think the technology of the cam bearings doesn't match the rest of the engine. It still runs just fine and will use a quart in around 1000 mi., still a lot of life in the engine.
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