The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 261 Rocker Arm Oiling Tube Broken

I pulled the valve cover on my 261 and noticed a broken oiling tube. I bought this motor years ago and I've never ran it. My question is: Do I need to find a replacement tube / repair it or will it be ok as is?

Thanks,
Cory

What year 261?

There were different styles of "oiling tubes" between 1954 and 1963.

"Do I need to find a replacement tube / repair it or will it be ok as is?"
Run your engine with the valve cover off. If oil comes out of the rocker arms, you are OK.
If no oil comes out of the rocker arms, buy a replacement tube (eBay - make sure it looks like your tube).

Tim, Thanks for the quick reply. I'm not sure the year of the head casting number 3836848 GM29 but, the block is 1958 Canadian. Casting # 3733813

I'll do an engine run and check it out.

Cory,

I hesitate to advise on what was used in which years on Canadian trucks.

Here is a page with different styles of connectors/oilers used on USA trucks.

That might help you find what you need (in eBay, perhaps).

Please let us know how this works out for you.

VERY Helpful Thank you!!

Read this thread, as it appears that you have a 261 with a 235 cylinder head: rocker arm oiling in 261/235 engines

And this thread: Rocker arm oiling info on 235

Cory, not to worry...just needs a tweak. Prior to 1959, the oil tubes looped around and returned the excess oil to the sump through the head. Starting in 1959, the oil tubes were pinched off to force more oil through the rocker tubes.

Many mechanics would adjust the pre'59 tubes by cutting off the return loop and pinching them off to force more oil to the rocker tubes. It was very common, so much so that it seems that you can find more pinched off ones in salvage yards instead of intact ones.

Yours is halfway modified. The return loop has been cut (broken) off, but the tube wasn't pinched off. Simply remove it, stick the cut off end in a vice and crimp it shut. Then you'll be good to go with all of the oil being forced through the rocker tubes.

Matt

If it is a Canadian Pontiac motor, 55 to 62, the 848 head is what it came stock with and it would have hydraulic lifters, if you search Canadian Pontiac 261 you will have better luck finding info. I have one and the tube is pinched off

justmike- that is the first time that I have heard that... did the factory do this to increase compression? Interesting

I have a NOS 261 cam that has a label on the box that says that it is for a 261 with hydraulic lifters and a Powerglide transmission. I picked it up at a swap meet. I thought it was odd thinking that the 261 was only available in larger trucks in the USA and I doubted if any of those came with Powerglides. Must have been made for a Canadian 261? I know some of the Chevy cars in the USA with 235's and Powerglides had hydraulic lifters, so since the 261's in Canada were in Pontiacs, maybe the hydraulic lifters were for the same reason?

If anyone needs a hydraulic lifter 261cam, send me a PM. I've only seen solid lifter ones available through the various parts suppliers. I won't be using it.

Matt