428 Oil pressure and leaking around distributor

[Hill Bullock]

Hey Folks,

I have a '66 428 with stock heads and an Edelbrock Performer 390 intake.

Two questions...what are safe oil pressures to run? My pressure was dropping a bit while idling, so I added Lucas oil treatment. Now it runs a fair bit higher. Anyone know what good idle/at-speed oil pressures are for a 428?

Also, I remember once someone posting a link to an article about Edelbrock intakes not matching up exactly with 428 blocks with respect to the distributor hole, and there being an oil leak unless some machining was done. Anyone know what that link is?

Thanks Much

[Jeff Frigo]

Try this:

Edelbrock Intake Fix

[cobish]

what is the oil press?

[cobra400hp]

Hill,
I have a ls427 with a 390 and it is a pretty fresh engine. about 300 miles on it... I have about 25 pounds at idle and going down the highway I have close to 50 pounds.

I had that problem with the ditributor hole not quite lineing up. I loosened the intake, stabbed the distributor and then tightened the intake back up. This was on the last engine that blew due to being .060 over. anyway...

DO you know about the show tomorrow/SUnday at hooters?? its on highway 26 just south of ne loop 820 in Grapevine.....

Hope you get this resolved....

Later.
Paul

[Hill Bullock]

Thanks for the URL.

I WAS running (after warming up) right below 5 at idle to about 45 at speed. Now, with Lucas mixed in, I am running right at 15 idle, and it can get between 60-75 at speed. Too high?

[Hill Bullock]

Cobra400hp...didn't you have to re-pookie the intake manifold? Or did you just loosen the bolts without actually breaking the seal?

And lastly, did your oil leak completely go away?

Thanks!

[WYT VNM]

I have same basic engine, rebuilt nicely but I don't have bearing clearances on me. 20 lb. at idle, 55 cruising 2500 rpm, nearly 70 at speed. All of these are while hot. Go up about 10 when cold.

[cobra400hp]

HIll... im fortunate to say that I didnt have an oil leak. I had to do that just to get the dist. in. I didnt do any machining. We the intake off for some reason and I was able get this situated before we put any gasket and sealer down.

Do you have a mechanical or an electric gauge(with a sender)

[Mr.Fixit]

You need about 15 psi to keep the bearings floating. Anything much over 50 is not really needed for a gas burning motor. But your experiences may differ, I have a friend with a buick T-type that only had 5-6 psi at idle, for several years. It runs 11's all day. 75 psi is not too high. Too much oil pressure and you can blast pits into the bearings, as well as the extra load on the timing chain and distributor.