The Rover V8 is a old GM engine from the '60's.
It has changed very very little in that time.

Your oil pressure is fine, 12psi at a hot idle is perfectly normal.
But for $100 go ahead and replace the bearings, drop the oil pan, replace the bearings.
Jack the front of the truck up so the axle hangs as far as it can.
Plenty of room.
When the noise is still there turn up the stereo.

 

An update:

I ran the motor a little longer and the pressure dropped to aound 10 psi. The noise returned, although less sharp than before. It goes away with a little higher rpm (more oil pressure).

Just ordered main bearings and rod bearings. Atlantic British let me know that the main bearings can be changed with the motor in the truck. Will probably check the current bearing clearance with plastigage (but expect the worn bearings will be clear).

Hopefully this will resolve the low oil pressure problem.

 

Don't expect too much... I replaced main and rod bearings and still only get 12 psi.

 

Interesting. I might be able to learn from your experience.

A few questions:
1. When you replaced the main/rod bearings, did you measure the clearance of the old and new bearings with plastigage?
2. What caused you to replace the bearings in the first place (low oil pressure, an engine noise)?
3. Have you replaced other components that might cause low oil pressure (rocker shafts, rocker arms, ?)?

Thanks again for any information that you can provide.

 

1. Plastigaged new bearings only, no sense in checking old bearings showing copper.
2. Replaced block with slipped liner, saw the bearings were far gone and decided to replace them.
3. Replaced oil pump gears, main & rod bearings, camshaft, lifters, push rods, rocker shafts, rocker arms, front & back oil seal. I did not replace the camshaft bearings since everyone I spoke to said they don't wear.

My before and after oil pressure has not changed: 50+ at cold idle and 2000rpm, 12 at hot idle and 50 at 2000 rpm hot.

 

You got in deep.

I will probably follow the same measurement approach (only plastigage the new bearings). I am glad to hear that the cam bearings do not wear. If 12 psi gets me out of the ticking issue, I will be happy.

How did you know that you had a slipped liner?

 

People say cam bearings do not wear... I'll take their word
The big O stamped in my head was a clue that the liner slipped
The noise was there and some other signs, the top edge of the liner was worn away and lay about 1/8 below the deck surface, the top of the piston surface was pitted and the bottom ridge of the cylinder was peeled a bit from the impact of the liner.

Btw I have a tick that comes and goes at hot idle, not serious but annoying. At this point I'm driving it until something breaks, that way I can see wtf it was. I have another engine I'm working on so I don't give a **** about this one, as long as it lasts another year or so I'm happy. But that's a whole other story...

 

Hi
I found a cam bearing in my oil pan while changing the oil pump gear due to low pressure that was not fixed with the new gear and i need to know if its worth the trouble to replace and if so how much do i replace at this time. Cam, lifters, bearings or just bearings, also should i do all of the other bearings too? Do i need to measure or just go for it? I have to order parts on the internet and that takes time,so its really impractical for me to take it apart measure and wait a week plus for bearings.
Btw, it drives GREAT no problems, 200k 04 se7.
One other unrelated issue that i cant figure out is a metalic grinding when i take off fast that only lasts for a couple of seconds. It has been there as long as ive had the rover and is the only thing i cant diagnose. Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks.

 

It going to take a new cam,lifers and cam bearing. @ 200k its up to you how much more you want to keep it.
Ps you should start a new post the other one is real old