The 1st series engines 53-55 used the oil line and restrictor in the pushrod cover. That small line can sludge up and require the bypass line that goes from oil pressure gauge port around to 1/8" pipe plug at head. Some people make the mistake and remove the line altogether, cutting off the oil supply.
The 58-62 engines didn't have this line. The lifter galley was drilled for hyd lifters even if solids were used. The galley oiled from the front and rear cam bearings and met in the center of the galley. At this point there is a vertical passage that goes from lifter galley to block deck surface. The oil passes thru the "triangle" space mentioned in the head gasket and into the head. The oil then flows around headbolt and then out of top of head into oil feedpipe.
There are two places you can check for oil flow. One is to remove the 1/8 pipe plug in the pass side of the head and check for oil or gunk there in head passages. I've examined both a '54 head and a '60 848 head: The casting of the head allows the oil to flow around the headbolt without using a special headbolt. Now maybe the gunk built up in the head could block the oil flow, or the bolt used was too long, but I've never seen a special 235 headbolt, never seen one in manuals and I've taken 4 different 235s of different years apart & never seen one. If somebody can post a pic of a factory piece, please do so.
The other place to check for oil flow in inside the pushrod cover. If your engine has a removable line, you can remove it and check for oil feed from the rear cam bearing. 58-62 engines didnt have the line, but the upper hole is still there, blocked by a 1/8" pipe plug. You can remove that and check for flow up to head or down to galley with compressed air.
When rebuilding an engine that doesn't have the internal removeable oil line, you must use lifters that have the oil groove machined into them. That allows oil to flow around them and to the next lifter, and to the rocker feed passage in the center of the galley.
55-57 engines were transistion years and may have a combination of whats been mentioned above.
good luck
chip
