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What am I doing in a postwar forum?

My good friend Chris Recker just fired up his newly rebuilt 54 - 359. Solid 40 lbs oil pressure, but the lifters are noisy, and upon visual inspection/removal of valve covers, the lifters may not be getting any oil?

Looking for diagnostic suggestions, maybe a schematic of the oil flow?

Help please, thank you. If you don't feel like typing, please call Chris direct at eight one seven, 773 Eighteen Fifty-two.

DAF

Oil flow to the lifters is via the pigtail on the drivers side. The pressure port straight off pump is the bottom port and the pigtail feeds that to the port just above which is directly to the lifter gallery. Check the pigtail for any kinks and on the tee make sure it has the same opening on both outlets to the pigtail and the filter. If there is a restriction on one side make sure it is on the oil filter side. Sometimes on a fresh rebuild it takes a considerable time for all the lifters to fill and get quiet. Also assume there was no end plug or the drip valve into timing chain area left off an end of the gallery

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How is the filter plumbed? Perhaps there is no restrictor in the by-pass to the pan.

Were the vales adjusted? I know that sounds odd for hydraulic lifters but there was a special tool for doing this so that the proper cold non-pressurized gap could be achieved, which was done by either grinding the tip of the valve stem or the seat, depending on whether more or less gap was needed

I have one of these tools which I made decades ago from the specifications that I believe I found in one of the Packard Service Counselors. Since I used to be a journeyman toolmaker, this gauge was ground to high precision but unfortunately I am no longer in the trade so I cannot offer to make you one.

Update - Chris wound up removing the timing cover/chain, etc. to expose the oil galley plug (opening) behind the cam gear that was removed when the block was dipped/cleaned. The plug had not been reinstalled, oil was being pushed right into the chain area and down back in to the oil pan. Replacing the plug has resolved the lack of oil to the lifters. Engine has been re-started and within seconds quieted right down. Car was driven this week for the first time since 1977.

Another Packard back on the road - thank you to all who responded with helpful suggestions.

DAF (and yes, Chris will be instructed as to how to post on his own...)

Flackmaster, do not instruct Chris how to post. It is great to see you mingle with the postwar crowd.

Flackmaster, thanks for the update. It will probably help someone on the next straight eight rebuild.