The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Valve silencer pad

Anyone running one of these in your stovebolt?

I have looked at a lot of NOS parts and accessories, but never knew such a thing existed. Pretty interesting if not even a little comical. Do they work?

(The link is only for reference, I have zero interest in selling these things)

Snake Oil IMHO. I've heard of them.

" . . . These were sold as an accessory back in the day to quiet valve train noise, prevent condensation rust and keep the top end lubricated. "

That would be a non-GM accessory for 216/235 Chevrolet engines up through 1953 (and later for GMC 6-cyl engines).

They might make the valve noise quieter, and maybe decrease rust (if they do not block the slits in the valve cover), but they would add little to "top end" lubrication.

If anything I would think they'd soak up oil and detract from lubrication!

I chuckled a bit when I saw the item and the description. Seems like a better cure for valve noise would be properly adjusted valves.

It's not that bad an idea... Chevy did this for the 4 cylinder as late as 1928 (and I assume earlier but I don't know).

I had a 1928 Chevy car for a while and there is no oil pumped to the rocker arms or head at all. Instead the rocker arms rely on an oil soaked felt pad/mat laying on top of them, similar/same as the pad discussed above. Occasionally you'd stop and squirt some more oil on the pad through the holes in the top of the valve cover.
http://vcca.org/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/54133/28_ROCKER_ARM_MAINTANCE

I don't think it'd hurt lubrication any at all and might help by retaining some oil to drip and seep while not running. It can't be all bad, it was the only lubrication for the 1928 rocker arms

As for quieting the valves I think it might muffle them some, but proper adjustment is the best solution and otherwise just live with it.

Grigg

I found one of these in the 1940 216 engine that came with my 1937 project. It was very oil soaked and dirty. The top end looks good though, so I don't think it hurt anything. I doubt I will put it back when I get the engine running.
Kent

Neat. I zoomed the instructions out and it indicates that once saturated with oil it can hold up to a full qt! I guess you need to run more oil in the engine with one of these.
Also say's it cleans the incoming draft air from the vents and cap, that would be a benefit.

A good example of an enterprising thinker. Wonder if he sold any dealers on it?

Dave

Good point. I guess it would make a decent dirt trap for the vents.

I have spent entirely too much time and effort trying to keep foreign objects out of my engine, to purposely put one in it.

Harley-Davidson used the same idea on the 1948-65 panhead big twins, which had stamped sheet metal valve covers.

If it was $6 rather than $60, would be kind of a fun experiment.

http://s1149.photobucket.com/user/j...ve%20silencer%20pad_zpsd8vmizfm.jpg.html

I just opened up the valve cover on my 51 GMC and found one of these. I've never seen one before, glad there was this string to find out what it was. I haven't gotten the engine running yet so I don't know if it worked but the valve lifters are all clean...

The felt on my 37 Buick straight 8 was a full half inch thick and as wide as the valve cover. Old one weighed a bunch when saturated. Valves, rockers, and shafts had near zero wear and almost sounded like it had hydraulic lifters. I removed and it was noisy so cut a new one and reinstalled. Many of the machines in my shop have felt wicks in the oil cups that when filled to saturation last for several weeks while keeping shafts/bushings/ bearings lubed. Completed a lap of the U.S. in 2015 (about 6000 miles) in the old 37 so I guess the pad isn't hurting anything.

brokenhead made me laugh and each time I see his comment I chuckle. He really has a point, my 29 and 42 did take six quarts but I wonder how much high oil pressure one would have if it set for a month or more. By his name I would guess he had or has had a 216 in his past. I cooked more than a few until an old timer told me to boil the head every time it was taken off. The heat gauge was in the left side of head I think and it would plug up which did not show overheating. Doc