Doc - Passages are open. I was reading the lenghtly message you sent last week on this problem. As I understand from it the rear cam bearing has two holes which have to be properly aligned. Also, if I understand you article correctly the rear camshaft journal should have a hole drilled all the way through it. I don't remember the cam having a hole drilled through the center of the rear journal, and can't remember if the cam bearing had two holes or not. Looks like the cam needs to be pulled to check these possible causes.


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Doc- Restarted the engine after pouring oil over the valve train and galley. Ran for 5 mins at 2000 rpm. Still no oil at rockers. Guage was showing 60psi @ 2000rpm. My questions are: 1)If I remove the plugs and rocker shaft and free spin the engine with starter will it bring (have enough rpms) to bring oil up to the rocker shaft tower hole assuming the problem is not in the passage or rear cam bearing?? If so, I could tell whether its the shaft or or below it. 2) The rear cam bearing has only one hole - correct?? I know the hole was lined up and the passage was open. The cam was not tight when installed. The block was hot tanked and was cleaned 3 times including running the passages before assembly. When I spinned the engine last week with the plugs out it built up 40psi of pressure. 3) What do suggest at this point??

I agree, (what a #$%^&*) may-be the rear cam bearing is not installed correctly or has rotated in it's bore. The two oil feed holes in the SL6 rear cam bearing are *not* directly across from each other (not 180º positioning) so it is "one way only" bearing installation. I have also seen the crosshole in the cam plugged or missing, it has a "dogleg" in it ( it is drilled from two sides so make sure the holes meet-up cleanly.

Here are some "think out of the box" solutions, both install a "by-pass" tube around the rear cam journal. I did one system where I installed (brazed-in) a squirt tube directly into the valve cover and connected it to the oil pump via a hard line. (I use this valve cover with roller rockers to help keep the temp. stable and the tips well oiled)
Another "idea" is to drill and tap (1/8 NPT) into the lower rear head bolt hole. (yes, right thru the side of the head casting)Install a fitting and provide hardline pressure from the pump or main oil galley.

Both of these "by-pass operations" are a lot of work so I would say it is best to swallow hard, pull-out the engine and fix the rear cam bearing / journal. If the rear cam journal is not cross-drilled, the cam bearing (or cam) can be grooved to provide the oil a pathway. (groove the bearing you have or buy a 80-86 cam bearing set, hyd. cam SL6 engines have a grooved rear cam bearing)
DD