Low oil pressure after cam install

[LS3Kook]

Just installed a tsp stage 3 cam as well as lifters, pushrods, valve springs, rocker trunnion upgrade, oil pump, chain, tensioner. Installed new gaskets across engine.

primed pump before start up and vehicle had oil pressure sitting around 30-40psi. once vehicle warms up and starts idling around 3-5 hundred rpms the pressure drops slowly and eventually gets to zero. vehicle is fine while driving once around 1k rpms vehicle has 30+ psi and climbs with rpms. but when i had to stop due to traffic and the pressure started dropping I was forced to rev the engine to 1500-2k rpms to keep good pressure and after it sounded like a lifter tick or rocker clatter. it would do that off and on during the test drive. once vehicle is started cold there is no significant noise.

vehicle is not tuned yet due to this issue. when installing new valley cover o-rings they seemed loose but did not fall out and ive heard if the valley plate o-rings leak this can cause the pressure to drop. when talking to the tuner he things the pick up tube o-ring is messed up. I have a new oem valley pate on the way as well as pick up tube and seal. I'm gonna start with the valley plate because I really dont want to drop the front cradle if I dont have to.

Just get some opinions on the issue and see if I'm going in the right direction or if anyone has ran into the issue before

[LS1Formulation]

Almost 100% sure you nicked the oil pump seal on install. I did it to myself once on my Firebird's LS1, and I was mega careful installing it. Unfortunately, it's easy to do.

[InFiD3ViL]

I'm guessing O-ring, but obviously just a guess since it's so easy to mess it up during install. I doubt cam bearings would present themselves as an issue only after a cam swap. I only dropped the pan a bit when I did mine, but my god - what a pain in the ass. I wound up tying fishing line to the oil pickup bolt because I was afraid I was going to drop it in the pan.

I can't even imagine how much this sucks for you, but of course you know to make it right before damage occurs. Starting at the valley plate seems best, as you said. Just be sure to let it idle as little as possible when testing things out.

Best of luck man. Please update the thread when you get this figured out.

[FasNuf]

Did you do anything to the oil dumbbell?
Not sure what the valley cover has to do with oil pressure, but it sounds like the pickup oring was either nicked or the wrong size. I bought mine new from the dealer using the VIN.
When I installed the oring, I used Ultra Slick on the oring and inside the oil pump receiver. Straight on push is best to not roll the seal.

[ZL1_Chris]

I second FasNuf about the possibility of the bar bell issue although I am leaning more towards something you did during the cam install like the pinching pick-up tube O-ring normally this causes no oil pressure and also could very well be your cam retainer plate.
I know its not likely but ill throw it out there, could also be clogged pick-up screen as well if you didnt change it. I am suspicious as almost all these should effect oil pressure even when cold. Like @InFiD3ViL said, man I feel for you.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

I bet it’s the pickup o ring.

[PaulsSS]

I guess you probably didn't measure the cam journals old-new cam? I've seen similar trouble low oil pressure after cam install because of worn cam bearings or smaller journals. Another thing I've seen is cam bearings getting pushed out of place when changing the cam. Oring of course is a good place to start, carefully pull it apart and if the oring is the proper size and not damaged I'd look at the things I mentioned.

[ZL1_Chris]

Originally Posted by PaulsSS

I guess you probably didn't measure the cam journals old-new cam? I've seen similar trouble low oil pressure after cam install because of worn cam bearings or smaller journals. Another thing I've seen is cam bearings getting pushed out of place when changing the cam. Oring of course is a good place to start, carefully pull it apart and if the oring is the proper size and not damaged I'd look at the things I mentioned.

Please explain further how cam bearings or worn journals effects oil pressure

[FasNuf]

Originally Posted by ZL1_Chris

Please explain further how cam bearings or worn journals effects oil pressure

He means the tolerance has gotten bigger due to wear allowing more oil to flow which reduces pressure. A possibility on a high milage engine. When the oil is cold it's thicker so oil pressure looks good. As it heats it thins and pressure reduces.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by ZL1_Chris

Please explain further how cam bearings or worn journals effects oil pressure

That’s pretty basic engine building stuff. Just like the mains and rods the cam floats on a cushion of oil, in order for this to be possible there have to be pretty tight tolerances to hold the oil in the bearing and and not have it leak out the sides, if any of the bearings are worn the oil leaks out of the bearing and oil psi is affected. Internal oil leaks in the oil system are one of a few causes of low oil psi.

[ZL1_Chris]

Originally Posted by FasNuf

He means the tolerance has gotten bigger due to wear allowing more oil to flow which reduces pressure. A possibility on a high milage engine. When the oil is cold it's thicker so oil pressure looks good. As it heats it thins and pressure reduces.

I think you should read his post agian........ he said cam bearings not main bearings I sir challenge you as well to convince me that CAM bearings have anything to do with oil pressure in an LS engine.

[ZL1_Chris]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

That’s pretty basic engine building stuff. Just like the mains and rods the cam floats on a cushion of oil, in order for this to be possible there have to be pretty tight tolerances to hold the oil in the bearing and and not have it leak out the sides, if any of the bearings are worn the oil leaks out of the bearing and oil psi is affected. Internal oil leaks in the oil system are one of a few causes of low oil psi.

There is no oil holes for the oil to flow through a cam bearing try agian I've built a few engines

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by ZL1_Chris

I think you should read his post agian........ he said cam bearings not main bearings I sir challenge you as well to convince me that CAM bearings have anything to do with oil pressure in an LS engine.

I’ll take that bet, the cam journals are pressure fed from the pump. They get play oil psi goes down. Do some research it’s actually a semi common issue in LS engines. Like I said above I don’t think that’s the problem here but it is definitely possible.

[FasNuf]

Originally Posted by ZL1_Chris

There is no oil holes for the oil to flow through a cam bearing try agian I've built a few engines

There isn't priority main oiling in the LS either. I still think his issue is an oring.