Oil pressure but no oil getting to rocker arms.

[Nomar85]

Hey guy. New to the forum and first real post. But I've been a mechanic most of my life. I just picked up this 74 GMC K25 with a 350 that was missing the distributor, valve covers and fan. So I was assuming a oil pump problem. Today I installed my distributor and fired the motor. I have good oil pressure on the stock gauge but I have no oil getting to the rocker arms. It stays dry for the full 30 seconds I ran her. Could this be clogged pushrods? There is no rocker tap or miss while she was running. I have poured oil on the rockers and started her a few more times still with no oil getting to the top. Any suggestions? Thanks

[enaberif]

First pick up a priming tool so you can check without running the truck. You may have a oil pump problem or you could be even missing the oil pump to distributor rod.

[Nomar85]

I know the oil pump shaft is in there. How else would my gauge show oil pressure?

[bd]

It's getting oil to the lifters or at least a few would have bled down (unless the plungers are seated) - and you stated there's no rocker noise.  With the engine running try backing off one rocker a little bit to see if oil begins to flow.  If it does, then remove the pushrods and wash/blow them out and readjust the valves.  How does the oil look?

[Nomar85]

The oil looks good, not black and still pretty thick. Yeah, I figured the oil was getting as far as the lifters. But I just don't see all 16 pushrods being clogged.  As soon as I get off work I'll loosen a rocker arm and see what happens.. Thanks