The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 216 external oil line(?) problem

I'm haveing trouble with the short little 3/16" external line that is found on the side of the engine block on the left (driver's) side just below and in back of the throttle rod pivot. I believe this is some sort of oil line? Whatever it is the fittings are stripped by someone who apparently tried to replace it and the upper larger fitting won't come out of the block for some reason. Also the tube is pushed way into the block there. The connections both have brass compression nuts/ferrules and the tube is made of copper. Is this the way it was originally or was the tube made out of steel and had flared fittings? Is the upper larger fitting supposed to have the tubing pushed way into the hole? This doesn't look right to me. I want to put it back the way it was originally and so it doesn't leak. Thanks for any help.

from the location it could be the oil pressure gauge.. or maybe the oil filter line.. do you have a picture

That line goes all the way through the water jacket and comes out under the side cover near the center of the engine. It's the oil supply for the rocker arms. Once it's installed, those compression fittings are not serviceable- - - -the line must be destroyed to remove it, and a new one is installed. Some of the antique parts vendors sell a kit with all the bits and pieces to do the replacement. Be sure and drain the coolant before you start the project, and you'll only get one shot at getting all the bends right on both ends!
Jerry

Thanks. That's what I need to know.

On this engine it looks like someone installed a new line and compression fittings but then overtightened them and stripped the threads. Would it be better to just solder these?

That will make it more difficult to remove the line after it leaks following the solder job. Just fix it right the first time!
Jerry

I had to replace that line last summer. As stated the line is part of a kit that extends through the blocks water jacket, out into the push rod gallery and feeds up to the rocker arms. I got the oil line replacement kit from one of our popular on-line venders here. On a scale of 1 - 10 I'd give it a 5 in mechanical difficulty and an 8 in access ability difficulty. It's a piece of cake if you pull the engine (j/k)
You need to drain the coolant, remove the large side cover and lay all over the drivers side fender to get the line installed and properly connected leak free. I used Teflon tape and it hasn't leaked in nearly 2k miles.....
Took approx. 4 hrs. I think I documented it but don't recall, others have tho...
So you'll need the oil line replacement kit, new side cover gasket, a valve cover gasket and any anti-freeze you cannot save.
As said, do it right and you won't have to worry about it for a long time.
Dave

Okay. Thanks.