How true! My two 59 blocks do not have the line. In 59, GM changed the oiling system. The line was removed so the rockers were no longer being fed via the rear cam bearing but a direct drilled feed from the galley. The orifice in the head metering the oil was enlarged (I forget the sizes off the top of my head but larger then the 54-58 heads). The rockers were changed in that the groove inside each rocker arm no longer directly intersects the spit hole in the rocker but is offset, and the connector that connected both halves of the rocker assembly is pinched off instead of a loop to bleed off extra flow like the 54-58 rockers. It made a sort of higher pressure rocker oiling system.
Any chance the 3 is actually an 8? At any rate, can you see any of the stampings on the distributor pad. That may help identify the block. Sometimes the casting date does not overlap with the use (for example 54-58 blocks cast in 59 for use as service replacement for 54-58). If no stamping on the distributor pad, might be a service replacement block.
You can send the cam out to Schneider cams in san diego, they can regrind it for you. AT 874 is what I would use for a lifter but that is just me. Also the Napa 215-4011 or sealed power rp3020 push rods. Interestingly enough, the replacement push rods are stronger then the GM push rods. If you want really strong push rods, Smith Brothers in Oregon can make up 3/8 chrome moly pushrods. I have them in my motor. they also make a rocker adjuster that uses the more modern 12 point nut and hex head adjuster. The ball on the adjuster is machined and polished to fit the push rod cup on the smith brothers push rods perfectly. A work of art really. Unfortunately, they do not make anything other than 3/8 push rods for our motors. If the rocker arms are loose on the rocker shaft and/or the rocker shaft is really galled up badly, you can have the assembly rebuilt at rocker arms unlimited in California. Not cheap, but worth it for a quiet well running motor. Take a look at the adjuster balls on the ends of the rocker arms. Should be round. If not, they will need to be replaced. Replacements are sort of hard to come by but rocker arms unlimited may have them.
Clean the line behind the side cover really well. Do the same for the passage in the head that goes to the rockers (the path from the steel line up to the head.)
Last edited by Dragsix; 01/24/2018 4:49 PM.
