[cobalt327]

If you look closely at the photo, you can see how the rear cam bearing isn't installed deep enough, only 1/2 of the bearing oil hole is aligned w/the annular groove. If the bearing were a bit further forward the hole would be totally occluded.

The same thing can happen if the bearing is too deep.

[scrot]

Ahhh I see what you are saying. What a dumbshizzle who installed the bearings. Doh!

[40forddgc]

If the engine is under warranty I would definitely send it back. All you are going to do if you don't is waste a bunch of time trying to eliminate one thing after another and possibly cause something that may void the warranty. Sorry to have to tell you that but "send it back". In the long run you won't be sorry you did. I hope this works out for you.
Regards
Doug

[Camaro820]

for the cam bearing, i'm not sure whether or not how it was installed. i assumed that these people know what they are doing. but i did call them not only because of the low oil pressure, i called them because i seem to be having a lifter problem. it makes an a lot of noise when the engine is hot. at first i thought, "ok. they just need adjusted." but then i was thinking to myself why should i have to adjust them when this engine was on the dyno machine at the manufacturer? they should have adjusted them already and being they are hydraulic lifters, it should only have to be done once, right? but i adjusted them anyway but i took the easy route and did it while it was running. very messy, but i know not the proper way. it's a little quieter. anyway, they told me that they wouldn't take it back only they would send me the parts and pay for the labor only if the engine was installed by a garage. of course i told them it was and luckily i have friends who own a garage. so if there is a bad lifter, which i'm hoping there isn't, they would hook me up so i wouldn't have to pay anything for new parts.

[dalesy]

It's been awhile since I've built an engine, but I'm agreeing that you're most likely going to have to pull the pan.

You said that you had good oil pressure the first time it was started, but after awhile the pressure was very low. I'm thinking that a bearing mis-installation would cause the oil pressure to be low, right from the start, and it wouldn't increase. More than once, over the years, when we built an engine, it would do what you're talking about.

Turned out, a tiny piece of metal, plastic, or whatever would get caught in the pressure relief valve in the oil pump. Many times, a tiny piece of 'something' will not get washed out during or prior to assembly. This can make for near "O" oil pressure, and can happen during the first few runs, until the piece finds its way into the filter. I'd make sure to check this also, in addition to the pickup.

Make sure, if you do decide to ship it back, that they agree to pay shipping both ways, and compensate whoever installed it for their time.