Oil pressure

[MarkH]

What's the normal oil pressure on a 161 F Head?

Mine was recently rebuilt including the rocker arm assembly & oil pump. Egge did the pump & it tested at 50psi high speed, 42psi low, 1.2 gal a minute.

Engine ran at 55psi cold & 52psi warm with 30wt oil and guessing about 1500rpm.

Rear main was dripping so it's torn back down for re-do, likely an install error. Even though there's a relief hole & also a gap for the oil slinger between the rear main & the rope seal, we keep wondering about the running pressure.

[Doc]

Well, no one has replied yet. But on the 226 it's typical to be 40-50 psi when just warming up and then 20-35 psi or so, maybe 40 psi  while running at speed and down to < 20 psi at idle, at least that is what I have observed with either 30W or 10W-40 oil.

[MarkH]

That sounds similar although I can't say what my pressure was at a correct idle speed. I got 30psi cranking it to make sure all the carb gas was gone before the tear down. 

[darrin502]

According to the 1954 Motors auto repair manual the oil pressure for the 161 F head is 35 psi at 35 Mph.
Lee

[MarkH]

I've been hearing similar number and some higher (& lower)  elsewhere. Probably check the oil galleries while it's apart and also see if the relief valve in the pump is stuck.

Thanks for the input fellas!