s14 ka oil pressure troubles

[ORL240]

need some help guys put my ka24de back 2gether and fired her up and oil light is on. block is fresh out of machine shop, honed, new piston rings, new main and rod bearings.ka is firing up perfect no bearing noise. middle chain tensioner is makin noise since not enuf oil pressure to head.1-2lbs tops of oil pressure at sender even while reving.does no oil pressure at oil sender = bad oil pump? can incorrect bearing clearances lead to low oil pressure? i do not hear any noise comin from bottom end (bearings not gettin any oil should be audible) , only sound is from lower chain tensioner not gettin ne oil pressure.Do you have to seal oil filter assembly with any type of liquid gasket when reassembling onto the block? I had to mount oil filter assembly after gettin block back from machine shop and i did not seal it. Is there ne way to tell if bearing clearances are off other than breaking down the bottom end?

[rogoman]

Don't run the motor until you find the cause of the low oil pressure. Here are several things that could cause your problem:

- the oil pickup has a missing O-ring or has a crack in the tube.- the two O-rings in the timing chain cover are missing.- the oil pump is dry inside; if so, it needs to be primed. That can be done by removing the oil pressure sensor and installing a line to a hand pump; now you can prime the oil pump.- the oil pump spring loaded regulator may be stuck open.

If the bearing clearances are larger then spec, it will lower the oil pressure but not down to 1 - 2 psi. unless you've got all wrong size rod/main bearings and the clearance is extremely excessive.

To recheck the bearing clearances, the bottom end needs to be broken down.