I am looking to repair a 1992 Bravada, which I hope to obtain soon after. Details later, We'll see. Anyway, I love Chevy, I love the 350's, but have never delved very deep into the wonderfull world of the 4.3l untill the last month or so. I had some great plans for my passed on Blazer that i'll transfer to this wonderfull looking car, but first, the problem at hand. The Guy's kid who had this one before me was loosing oil pressure and the oil pump was going out and he kept driving it till it developed a knock/tick. This is bad. So, my question is, other than the oil pump and filter, what should I check. I'm thinking about just straight up comming in with the pump, filter, oil, and new pushrods, because I think the pushrods =warped. Also, was thinking Connecting rod upper and lower bearings may be out due to lack of oil, just ruining them, and maybe the crank. Causing the pistons to maybe scratch/rub the piston walls. Also, The small part right off the cam that hits the rod (i forgot its name, tired u no?) may be hurt, but the rockers shouldn't be right? Ok. So that's a lot to ponder, but what do you guys think? will the bearings and crank go just like that? This happened to any of y'all? The engine runs, car drives, just that ticking noise now, and it is serious, no doubt. Unforutnate this has to be my first post, but I'll appreciate the help, and when it does run, You'll love to hear I have a 350 being built that would go great where the 4.3 is. Oh, Did i mention i have access to a welder, Some lifts, Lots of tools, and a few other goodies? So thanks, some help/direction or prior expertise would be great about now

Bummer man. You ought to let 88delta88 tell you the story about his sweet Cadillac he once owned until he sold it. Your story sounds familiar.

Welcome to TOC.

If you run an engine with the oil pump out of it, you will have problems with top end lubrication before you have problems with the main and rod bearings. Since pushrods dont warp, (they are cylindrical, and therefore cannot twist out of being flat) you dont have to worry about them being warped. They can bend, but if the engine runs strong with a tick, then this is also not your problem.

An oil filter should be changed every (or every other) oil change, and will not make a difference in whether or not the oil pump works. Bad bearings wont cause piston to cylinder wall interference ususally, but if it does, it wont run for long. Again, this is not your problem.

No part of the cam should hit the connecting rod. If it does, you have more problems than you describe. The cam pushes the lifters, and since a faulty oil pump can cause major top end lubrication problems, you could have a damaged cam and/or lifters. The rockers wont be hurt, theres nothing to hurt them.

350 chevys are a dime a dozen. If you were building an olds (hence the "olds" connection) that would be something a lil different and more impressive. 350 s-10s and s-10 blazers have been done numerous times, and they arent all they are cracked up to be.

However, given your post, my first recommendation is that you get your principles of internal cumbstion engine operation down so that you know how it works before you tear into it.

Andrew

Hmm. Lifters, gotcha. Couldn't remember the word. And I'm not used to trouble shooting engines, unfortunately. I'm going to start with the oil pump, and since I'm emptying the sump, might as well get a new filter with the new oil. Anyway, I know 350's are a dime a dozen, thats the point and my engine is a 4.3... standard gm engine right? chevy, olds, gmc, etc. Anyway, sorry about the wording, meant pushrods bending, don't think It could happen? I'm glad to hear, thanks. I'll keep you posted with the work, and feedback is appreciated, thanks!

Not exactly. 350 chev is different than the 350s from Olds, Pontiac, Buick, etc. Before 74 (?) All GM's model lines did all their own engine designs. Parts for these are not interchangible. Having a unique engine is part of what makes Olds so great. Now after 74 (?) GM used more corporate engines (read chevorlet) and they slowly phased out the other engines that Buick, Olds, Pontiac, etc. manufactured.

While the engine you have is a chev, not all engines were standard engines. Of course this was long before that Bravada was manufactured....

Andrew

Ohhhh.... The caddy was an awesome car, 79 coupe deville, 60,000 miles, 425 engine, not a door ding on the car. Interior plush as the day it was new. I had that car pimped!

I sold it to a good buddy, for a great price, and he drove it without changing oil until it ceased the oil pump. When the pump ceased, it ripped the teeth off the distributor, and rendered the engine a block of cast. He GAVE it to the wreckers who then put it at the bottom of a 2 car stack. Sad.

Geez 88, that thing was mint! Thats something Snoop Dog woulda drove!