M20B28 no oil in head

[ForcedFirebird]

Reread your first post. Check the front cam journal, it should have a slot in it. The oil only passes when the slot faces the oil holes. I discovered this many years ago when I was checking a used engine. Sitting on the stand, I turned the oil pump shaft with a hand still and it built up pressure, but dead-headed. I thought something was wrong until I rotated the engine a little and the oil shot out of the oil spray bar. Long shot, but we had a member a while back that bought a cam that had the hole for the cam gear in the wrong place - perhaps that feature was left out of your cam?

[ForcedFirebird]

Actually, you are correct. I'm putting a head together right now. The rocker retainer slots make it so they can't go in the wrong way and have the shaft retainer installed, the slots will be on the wrong side.

That being said, it reminded me a guy at the race track had a head rebuilt at the local machine shop - they forgot to put the retainer for the rocker shafts, so they spun, flipped all the retainers off and the valve-train ate itself for lunch.

The only time you need to drill anything is if you are using a 7 bearing cam in a 4 bearing head. The eta (200 casting) heads don't have the 2nd, 4th or 6th oil passages for the cam. I have drilled eta heads to use 7 bearing cams.

[michael_rpt]

i always thought they would only orient one way with the shaft lockers. i guess it's possible to install them 180 off.

That's exactly what I was informed in the workshop. But guy's statement was that he's not sure would it cause total lack of oil.
I found similar thread on forum and guy drilled 3 holes in the SETA head what actually I'd like to avoid..
I will send some photos as soon as I come to my hometown where the engine is. Anyway thanks for the tips.

[82eye]

i always thought they would only orient one way with the shaft lockers. i guess it's possible to install them 180 off.

[ForcedFirebird]

Very simple. The rocker shafts have a direction. Oil holes need to face down to the block, and the rocker retainers have to line up with the rockers.

So, before installing, set the rocker shaft in the cylinder head with the oil holes down and the notch facing together. You can rotate each rocker shaft parallel to the ground, on the same side,and you will have differing results.

My guess is the rocker shaft oil holes were facing "up". I've seen this in my shop (that we had to repair) where a customer brought the head to a local machine shop, and installed at home. The machine shop had put it together wrong, starving the top end.

[digger]

Yes some don’t have all drillings as all the camshaft journals are not present on eta cam. I don’t think this wouldn’t cause no oil at all though

[It's Soda Not Pop]

post up pictures if you can. That way everyone can get a more picture of what might be going on.

[michael_rpt]

Ok, so there is one reason found.
What about drilling oil holes? I also found a thread that it's necessary to make lubrication system working properly. Is that right?
I'm already getting crazy because in my engine there are already 3 people involved and nobody knows what's the exact reason.

[digger]

There is a right way and wrong way so the oil holes in shaft line up with the holes in head.

[michael_rpt]

Hello guys,
I decided to join r3vlimited forum because I think this is the best place to ask questions and find answers.
I started rebuilding my m20b25 and found out it's a good idea to stroke it. New mahle pistons, 130 conrods, 2242898 crank etc.
Whole engine was mount into the car, We put a bit of oil to the head and to cylinders and after few minutes it occured there is no oil coming to the head..
We checked the preasure in block - 4,5 bar.
We took the head away and went to the workshop that repairs only heads. Mechanic told me that somebody mount rocker arm shafts in the wrong way.. Is that even possible?
Head is from sETA - 1705 885, new asymetric schrick cam, new erling arms.
Guy told me that oil holes in the shafts didn't exactly fit the oil holes in the head in 100%.
REALOEM tells me that both shafts have the same number so there is no left and right.. There is only one position to mount them, am I right?
We've checked the oil pump, turned it and the oil squitted up, so I believe oil pump is ok, I used to run on it year ago.
Did somebody have the same issue?