There's an issue with the oil pressure, another reason for an eventual rebuild. But it's not low oil pressure. I think something got stuck on the pressure relief valve in the oil pump - when started up cold it will push a 100psi pressure gauge over the top and ruin it. It started doing that about a year ago. I went through a couple of gauges because at first I didn't notice what it was doing - I just noticed the gauge stuck at 100. The gauge in there currently comes down to 95 when shut off, and pegs at 100 when running, so I know it still has at least some oil pressure. And last night I swapped the rockers and cranked it around a few times setting the valves I got oil in the rocker shaft. Prior to the oil pressure spiking when cold it would hold about 50 psi when warm and revved up. I've used Mobil 1 synthetic in it for a long time.

I think the rod knock has been happening for a while, but it has been drowned out by the intake roar of the Webers and the too loud (just a little :^) ) exhaust. It had to get fairly loud before it could be heard above all the other noises it makes under throttle. And to hear it clearly at idle I still had to stuff a shop rag up the tail pipe to quiet it down some. Apparently 2 18 inch glass-packs don't do much of anything other than satisfy the legal requirement that there be a 'muffler' somewhere in the system.
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.