[bigblockv6]

Grooved bearings? Well just to confirm my suspicions I checked out the old 305E out of my 68 that's getting scrapped and there are no grooves in the cam bearings. The GMC Truck Unit Overhaul Manual as a very good illustration of the cam bearings with their oval shaped oil holes. From first hand experience it is necessary to turn the engine over to get the oil up into the rockers, when Azken brought up his issue it took me back when I was priming my 478 almost two years ago having the same situation and remembering a professional engine builder telling me you need to turn the engine over to see the oil flow through the rockers. The oil chart only shows where and which direction the oil flows and that's about it.