1957 1/2 ton, car 235 with hydraulic lifters. Supposed fresh rebuild. My friend has driven this truck for 2 years as his daily driver. He is a bit fussy, and has stayed close to no more than 50 MPH. So when it got rough, and started shaking he asked for some help. I did the usual tune up stuff and nothing helped. So after a bit I did a compression test, 4 5 were less than 30 psi. He freaked out. I said, relax, it is most likely a head gasket. two hours of why, why, why, I convinced him that it would probably be OK. And if not? Well then you are out the cost of the head gasket kit. Pulled the head off and yep, gasket had failed between 4, and 5. So again with the why, why, why. Actually this was a very good question. Why did the head gasket fail? Ever remove a head bolt that required 40 foot pounds of torque after the initial break release? I had 2 right at the junction of 4, and 5. A little time with the tap and die and the bolts were clean and so was the block. Bolts screwed in finger easy, just like the rest. So I am thinking good thoughts about my self. This is a very good time to step back and...wait for Instant Karma to get you. He now tells me that his oil pressure dropped to 0 just before we shut it down. to drain it and get ready to remove the head. So I pulled the line from the oil canister, yep plugged with dirt. Now I jerked the dizzy, he freaked. Removed the side cover, pulled the line from the cam galley and the head, clogged. So now I start taking the rocker arm shaft apart, oh yeah more...well you get the image. Rockers were free and smooth but I wanted to clean out the shaft. Rocker arm would not come off. The oil junction between the shafts slipped off nice and easy. That first rocker arm would bind and not come off. I grabbed a plastic faced hammer, supported the rocker arm in one hand, held the shaft over the bench and gave it a good smack. Off it came. Shaft looked good. Very nice smooth and very little wear. Inside the rocker arm was a "button" of metal. Right where the hole on the underside of the shaft would be. I thought...oh, oh. Looked like it could be a bit of bearing material. Nope this critter was harder than the Hubs of He##. I used a brake hone to smooth it up, still could see it but not feel it. 12 rocker arms later and the brake hone was toast. But the rocker arms were on the shaft, smooth as you please and not too loose. Has any one seen this before? It is new to me. Dropped the pan, cleaned every thing up reassembled and it is running fine with about 25 psi oil at temp just above idle, 12, 15 at idle and smooth and quiet. So far so good. But those rocker arms, what was that?
