The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop newly rebuilt 261 oil pressure help

i have just fired up my 261 after getting it all dialed in, thanks for the forums past post on all issues i have had trying to get it up and running,

my question is that i have what seems to be high oil pressure, i had the valve cover off when i first started it and the oil was flowing real well, i dont have an oil pressure guage hooked up yet but i did add a remote oil filter assembly by fram for a spin on oil filter and put a T for when i get a new oil pressure guage i can just plug it in, after the engine heated up to 180F i was out front looking at the water flow when the thermostat opened up, since i have a 62 p10 step van i have to open a small door on the front to have access to the radiator fill, after i checked the water flow i went back into the step van to check things over and at idle the oil was squirting about an inch high out of the center rocker arm and lesser at the front and rear of the rocker assembly, now when i reved the new 261 the oil would really squirt out of the rockers, i mean this thing is dumping some oil up top, i know since i cant tell you what the pressure is but my old tired 235 would just trickle out oil, i am sure that the 235 was all clogged up, should i be worried about the high oil pressure, the well known engine shop that did this 261 installed the oil pump and everything that had to do with the oil pump, so i dont know what is normal for an inline 6 engine..

any input would be greatly appreciated!

thanks

Jeff

I don't know much about the 261 but my 235 is the same way. I rebuilt it about a year ago and checking the oil at the top it does the same thing, lots of pressure in the middle rockers and lower at the ends. But that makes sense to me and it sound like your engine is in good order.

Hmmm....

what head you got (235 or 261) and what year is the engine and head?

Do you have the oil line under the side cover?

Frank

Just rebuilt my 261 as well and have the oil line under the side cover as well as the curved drip tube over the rocker shaft in the center. Oil seeps very slowly out of my drip tube as I pinched it down to force more oil through the rocker shaft. My rockers drip and ooze oil nicely but don't really shoot out any. My oil pressure is very good at the gauge. Like Frank said, do you have the tube under the side cover and a drip tube over the shaft?

superpieboy,

This is a 1962 261 engine with an original head, rocker arm assembly, and 58-62 solid lifters?

If your oil pressure is high, and oil is feeding into the rocker arm assembly, it seems that all your plumbing is installed correctly.

Did the engine shop install a new oil pump?

The oil pump has a "pressure regulator valve that is supposed to regulate oil pressure to approximately 35 psi at 2,000 rpm". This valve could be stuck and/or the journal in the oil pump head for the relief-valve plunger might be clogged, not allowing the spring-regulated plunger to move and provide pressure relief. There is picture of an "exploded"" oil pump in the Shop Manual (I looked at the 1960 Shop Manual).

Tim

Put a cheapy gauge on it so you know what the pressure is for sure.
Scott