Taff,
That part is called the Oil Connector and I think it was used through 1957 (at least). The Shop Manuals from 1948-1955 have a good picture of the part off the rocker arm assembly, and a picture of the assembly from the manifold side, but no picture of the assembly from the distributor side (to show where the "feed end" of the Oil Connector connects to the oil-feed tube from the cam journal, I think). I will have to check a Master Parts Catalog to see if the same Oil Connector was used prior to 1954. Pictures from the 1948-52 and 1955 Shop Manuals are at links at the bottom of this posting (compliments of Kieth Hardy's efforts on The Old Car Manual Project - a project that is valuable to all of us - thanks, Kieth).
Tomorrow, I will check earlier and later Shop Manuals (and Master Parts Catalogs) to confirm the years that part was used and to see if there are better pictures. I will post links, if I find anything.
Tim
Connector from the 1948-1952 Shop Manual Oil Connector from 1955 Shop Manual Oil Connector from the manifold side of the head Look at group number 1.928 Connector for 1954-1957. I am think that this connector changed in 1958, as a result of a change in how the oil from the cam ends was feed through the tappet journals and then up through the block and then through a head-bolt hole and finally into the Oil Connecor through a hole in the head. If anyone has a 29-64 Master Parts Catalog, maybe they could look up group 1.928 to see how long part 3836536 was used.
I can post a few photos from the '58 Shop Manual, if anyone is interested.
