The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Getting Oil to ALL the Rockers

I have a 235 CI engine manufactured late in 1953 for a 1954 model car with a Powerglide transmission.

I really don’t know the history of the engine or its components. Was told that the engine was a “crate motor” and both the head and the block were cast on the same day…but in the 72 years since then, who knows what has been done. I opened the pushrod cover and it seems very clean in there. The oil looks new, but at best I am assuming that the engine has been rebuilt.

I am moving toward starting the engine and today I spun the oil pump with a drill. It took a while, but eventually oil came out of the holes in the tops of SOME of the rocker arms. I rotated the crank by hand and managed to get oil to come out of one of the rockers that hadn’t shown any before…but a couple that had shown oil now were not…and a couple still haven’t shown any.

I have read a couple articles by “Chev235guy” about the oiling system for the 235s and a few threads on the forum about the oiling of the top end of these engines, but I still have concerns.

When I spin the oil pump with the drill, a noticeable amount of oil comes out from under the top of the arch of the rocker connector that loops over the rocker shaft and a whole bunch comes out of the end of that rocker connector tube dumping onto the head.

The rocker oil supply tube is in place under the side cover and I am getting oil to the top end…just worried that I am not getting enough to all the rockers.

Since I don’t know the history of the engine, and since the rockers are not all showing oil at the same time, should I be thinking about taking the rocker shaft apart and ensuring that everything is clean? (I have not idea how complicated that would be.)

Should I restrict the amount of oil that comes through the arched rocker connector tube?

Should I just keep spinning the oil pump to see if I can get oil to come out of all the rockers at the same time and evenly?

Should there be a hole in the underside of the top of the arch of the rocker connector (as there seems to be)? Since it is not under pressure, would it matter?

Thanks!