Very unexpected results.

[BlownMGB-V8]

I can't say I've ever had this happen before. Started my new engine and if I hadn't done it myself I'd swear it was built by a team of retarded Chimpanzees. Comically low oil pressure, I mean we're talking under 5 psi at idle with straight 30 wt oil and just over 10 at 2000rpm. Lots of smoke out of the even numbered cylinder bank too. TBH I began to suspect when I prelubed the engine by spinning the pump. Didn't see the pressure I was expecting and as I had the valve covers off I was watching the rockers for oil and I wasn't seeing much at the rear rocker. Then when I went to the other side the head was overflowing onto the ground and made about a 3 ft puddle. I think something may be off with my lifters. Could be a little low on oil too so I'll top that off and try again. All taken together that's a bit discouraging considering what I went through to build this engine. Possibly the rings can still seat. Possibly new lifters from TA will also help (kinda expensive but if it fixes the oil pressure then OK). Pulling the intake back off wouldn't be fun but easier than swapping to the 340. Not really the result I was looking for. Other than that it seems pretty solid though so I guess that's a plus.

Jim

[MGBV8]

I would be real surprised if it is the lifters.  Where are you measuring the oil pressure?

Check your bypass valve.

[BlownMGB-V8]

Nope, all the oil is going up into the even numbered valve cover, flooding the umbrella seals on the exhaust valves and starving the odd numbered bank. Turns out the SBC lifters offer very little restriction to oil flow whereas the Buick ones use a completely different metering method which greatly restricts flow by comparison. I think G is right about that. I can't order the right lifters until Monday. Johnson is the brand and they are costly. I can't think of any other scenario that explains everything.

Jim