Rusty,
Others here have way more knowledge and experience than I do, but I will say that you should NOT use a rocker assembly from a 216 on a '58 or later 235... the '58 should have the rocker arms with offset oiling holes (to reduce the flow of oil coming out), and an oil tube that is pinched off on the end so that there is no oil return from the rocker shaft. This was partially done to increase oil pressure in the rocker system.
Rocker assemblies should be matched to the block, not the head. Where does your rocker gets its oil from- is there an oil tube running inside your pushrod cover? There is a Tech article regarding the different types of arrangements (hollow cyl head bolt, or separate parallel drilled passage that runs along side the cyl head bolt, etc..)
My '59 engine (261) gets its rocker oil from the lifter galley and therefore requires lifters with the annular ring that allows oil to pass around the lifter. I had a few lifters that had been changed out to the old plain-wall "milk can" style, which I am sure didn't help matters either...
Also, be sure to determine whether or not it is a "full flow" block (all oil from the oil pump passes through the oil filter first), or a bypass filter setup. Then make sure that the oil filtration system (diameter of the oil lines) is appropriate.
I have a full flow block that had the filter plumbed for bypass, and ALL the pressurized oil was passing through a 3/16" orifice.... needless to say, the engine suffered oil starvation at the rockers and probably elsewhere. I was glad that I tore it down prior to putting it on the road.
The distributor gear has to match the cam material- cast iron or forged cam? 216's had forged cams, I believe. The newer engines have cast iron cams. Cast iron cam- use cast iron distributor gear. If I am not correct, someone here all surely correct me. I am not sure whether a distributor gear change is all that you would need to to do use a 216 distributor. Hopefully that's all it will take!
Intake manifold- it is my understanding that the older 216 manifold WILL fit if you use the proper adapter rings (the 216 had smaller diameter intake runners).
Last edited by Norcal Dave; 03/19/2017 7:32 AM.
