Quick question , my oil pressure at idle is around 60 psi , but it drops about 5 lbs then jumps back up to 60 psi It does it rhythmically with a constant beat I was wondering if the pressure drops a lil bit when the hole in the cam lines up with the hole in the block to send oil to the rockers.. Thanks for any reply 

I think you have something else going on.  Even at idle, the passage in the cam will line up 10-15 times a second.  You are not going to see that on a gauge, and particularly not a 55psi change within 1/10 to 1/15 of a second.
1st is a bad gauge.  Do you have a known to be good gauge you can try?
2nd, maybe a faulty pressure release valve within the oil pump.  If that 60psi is with the engine warmed up, then this is top of the list.  A new engine won't idle that high, let a lone a 60 year old engine with some wear.
3rd, concerning the drop in pressure, maybe debris in the oil pan blocking the pickup intermittently.



Lawrenceville, GA

Thanks for the reply . The oil gauge is new I did buy it on ebay cheap so maybe that could be an issue . The pan is clean I took it down to make sure the screen was clean. and the oil pump is brand new . The engine was rebuilt and has very low miles. Maybe I will change out the gauge . I have a mechanical gauge that I hooked up with a tee right at the block where the oil pressure sending switch mounts . The oil pump is an Elgin oil pump .  The drop is constant when the engine is cold or hot so maybe the pressure release valve in the pump wonkie 

its not a 55 lb psi drop its only 5lbs 

Oh, 5psi drop.  Do you have a tachometer?  Is the rpm steady or does it also drop slightly, at the same time that the pressure drops?

The drop probably is not the pressure release but if it is 60psi hot and cold, that probably is because the pressure will drop once the oil is at operating temperature.



Lawrenceville, GA

I read that like you did Charlie. Only thought I have is check the tightness of the nut on the pickup tube at the oil pump. Not to overdue it, but I've seen some odd reading if it is leaking a little air. But more likely rpm variations, as you said.



miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ