The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop rocker arms help

recently the fuel pump diaphragm was leaking fuel into the engine oil. by the time I detected/responded it had washed the interior of the untouched engine in my 52 with the 216 cu with 100k miles. on oil change I noticed a lot of sludge draining. on driving I also noticed better oil pressure and a somewhat quieter engine. tinkering around under the valve cover and with the engine at idle I noticed little to none oiling to the rocker arms. now I'm am concerned about interior passages as well. any thoughts on where to start on the rocker oiling and is my concerns valid. less than a 100 miles on engine since oil change.

There are lots of good tips on the oil line to the rocker on your 216. Use the search function and try to get the system clean. Could be as simple as sludge moved to the shaft or closing the lime.

There often times isn't a lot of oil getting to the rockers at idle although you should see some oozing. With the valve cover off and having run the engine for a few minutes (to give the rocker shafts a chance to fill) rev the engine for a few seconds. If you still don't see any oil exiting the holes on top of the rocker arms it's time to check for blockage. Good luck with it.

.... and then pull the rocker assembly off and clean clean clean and use an air hose to blow out the passages.

The rocker shafts after time have very heavy interior grease build up. Clean those thoroughly too.

There seems to be a suggestion that the thinned out oil loosened some sludge. On my 216, there is a restriction in the rocker supply fitting under the side cover. Any bit of sludge would definitely block it. Also, your rocker supply is designed so that the overflow dumps out the end of the U pipe. If you have oil running out there than for sure your rockers and or shaft are plugged up.

The trick was to pinch the end of that u - pipe off. that would hold more oil in the rocker shaft so all the rockers got oil.
Jay D.

brought engine up to temperature and observed rockers for oiling at a fast idle. each weep hole had a good amount of oil with oil being return out of the overflow tube. thanks for all the good help.

If you got oil at each rocker at the weep hole on top you have oil at the shaft. Good. If the flow seems to be too little you can pinch the over flow tube and it will force more to the rockers. I don't think you are in danger of over oiling them, but if I am wrong some one will tell us why. What is your oil pressure gauge indicating when fully warmed up at idle and on the road? 15-20 at idle is good for a 216 and 20 or more tells you that the bearing clearances are good on the road. That 216 will last a good long time if you don't try to make it go 70mph. It was made for work and a slower road speed. I for one can not imagine attempting 70mph on any road from 1920 to say 1960. That would be insane.

thanks Steve; it has a 30 psi gauge and it does tend to run at those pressures you mentioned except during the summer months it may be a little lower. I'm age 67 so it's range is within 10 miles of home on country roads at speeds of 25-40. strangely enough that is where the truck and I are the most comfortable. in the gallery under pete black.