breaking in cam 390 fe oil pressure

[390owner]

I just finished installing my 390 ford.I had the same machine shop build this engine that built my last 390 Anyway I fired it up and was breaking in the cam holding the rpms at 1800. The oil pressure started out at about 55 psi. About 15 mins into the break in the oil pressure started to drop. It stopped at 25 psi at 2000 rpm. After 20 mins I let it idle so I could set the timing and the oil pressure was 10 psi. I revved up to 2300 and the pressure was about 28 psi. Why did it go from 55 to 25 after 15 mins? Is this pressure good? It seems a little low to me. My old 390 would idle at 20 psi and was about 45 at high way speed.

[C6AE]

Excessive clearance somewhere, maybe cam bearings installed with the holes up, rocker shafts installed with the holes up?

[My427stang]

What were the bearing clearances and how did you measure?  What did you use for oil and which pump?  Any chance the shop forgot the distributor galley plug?

Also, always good to check with a second gauge before you tear in

[blykins]

As Ross said, I'd probably try a second gauge first.  If the second gauge backs up the first, then I'd pull the oil filter and cut it apart. 

[390owner]

Second gauge did the same thing. The machine shop is going to cut open the filter

[390owner]

Metal in oil filter so have to pull it out and back to machine shop

[BigBlueIron]

Bummer.

[blykins]

Sorry to hear that.

[FElony]

Bummer.

Total bummer. This is only funny when it happens to an LS owner.

[390owner]

Maybe it wont be to bad the problem is I am right in the middle of baseball season for my son. With work and games it is hard to make the time to pull it but the quicker I get it out the faster I can get it back. Does it sound like the cam or something else to you guys

[blykins]

What kind of trash was in the filter?

I would lean towards a cam break-in issue, but it's hard to say at this point.

[390owner]

It was just fine metal. It would fit in the palm of you hand. Not a lot but too much

[390owner]

It ended up being the cam bearings where burnt up. He said it did not hurt the cam or any thing else. Hopefully get it back in a few days.

[blykins]

Do they build a lot of FE's?

[Phil Brown]

Not trying to highjack a thread
But how do you kill the cam bearings without hurting the crank and rods in a non- sideoiler ? I only ask because I saw this happen recently to a 428, and yes the bearings were installed correctly. No reason they just looked as they stopped getting oil