The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop No oil flow to top of engine!

My painstaking education with a 55 235 continues. I got oil flowing through the tube down the side of the engine ( under the side cover) but the passage through the block is stopped up. The passage on the head is clear but something is wrong at the engine block. I was blowing air through it in both directions but air is barely moving through. Some type of debris must be in the passage. I removed the head bolt where the oil flows up and a coat hanger will go down through all the way to the turn. Any one have a diagram showing this oil passage so I can see what I am dealing with? I am going to try carb cleaner next to try to clear this path before I resort to bringing the oil tube out of the side cover and piping it into the hole on the head that has a pipe plug in it next to the oil passage.

You won't move a lot of air in the best case because the tube is so small. Any air movement is a good sign. Are you checking for oil flow by cranking the engine using the starter? Or are you starting the engine temporarily & checking the flow? If you are using the starter it'll take some time for the oil to reach the top end. Even with the spark plugs removed to let the engine turn faster it'll take several seconds of steady cranking for the oil to get to the top. I point this out because you may be thinking you have an issue when you really don't. If it were me I'd start the engine and let it run for a few seconds. With it running oil will get to the top very quickly (2-3 seconds) if you don't have a restriction. FYI it takes my '38 about 10-12 seconds of steady cranking without spark plugs to get oil showing at the top.

You can run a bypass if you want from the oil pressure gauge fitting on the block directly to the head. It acts as an insurance policy just in case your regular line gets clogged. Kits are available for this (eBay), or you can do as I did and fashion it yourself with standard brass plumbing fittings and 1/4" copper tubing a available at any home center or hardware store.

Add a tee for your new auxiliary oil line to the fitting where the line to the oil pressure gauge comes out of the block. Replace the 1/8" NPT plug from the middle of the head on the passenger side (between and above the #3 and #4 sparkplugs) with a fitting to accept the auxiliary oil line. Use compression fittings to connect copper tubing between the new tee and the replacement fitting on the head.

Here is a pic where the auxiliary line goes into the head--

http://s844.photobucket.com/user/ma...851_zps1ab903e3.jpg.html?sort=6&o=66

Here is a pic of the tee...look at the lower right--

http://s844.photobucket.com/user/ma...891_zps07d6f60a.jpg.html?sort=6&o=68

Note that my truck has three lines at the tee fitting...one to the oil filter (outer, straight connection), one to the oil pressure gauge (middle) and the third is the auxiliary oil line (the one closest to the block).

Matt