Recently I purchased a 1951 3100 P/U with a 216. The engine ran, but was noisey in the valve train and showed water contamination in the oil. I pulled the valve cover, the rocker shaft assembly was bone dry (no oil), I disconnected the rocker shaft oil supply line at the rocker shaft, started the engine and no oil. I am suspecting that the oil pressure regulator that controls oil flow to this line is defective. Can anyone give me info on this assembly? The manual does not cover it, it only vaguely mentions a relief valve within the oil pump. The oil pressure gauge indicates 15psi when running, but no oil flow at the rocker shaft line.
(What a weird system! I have never seen an oil line passing through the engine block laterally via a water jacket? absolutely ridiculouse) Any info on this oil pressure/flow regulator will be appreciated.
I am suspecting that the water/oil mix issue is not related and probably is a head gasket issue.
