The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1951 235 = No Oil To Rockers

Rebuilt an original 1951 235 from a sedan w/Power Glide. On startup, engine ran perfectly, but despite showing 20 lbs of pressure we never saw oil at the rockers. So, after removing the side cover, checking the obvious (oil line from block to head was clear) and a little troubleshooting we concluded it simply must be at the cam bushing (the lifter galley was dry, too.

Re-pulled the engine and disassembled it sufficiently to examine the oil bores and passages from main bearings to rear cam bushing (installed correctly) to the lifter galley; also removed main oil galley rear plug to confirm no hidden debris... all clear. Checked bores visually and with a piece of soft wire.

All ideas welcome... none too crazy to turn away.

Stumped in NC!!

OK... the fix is in!

Since we were able to crank up nearly 30 lbs oil pressure on a shop gauge with a drill, we knew insufficient oil pressure was not our problem. The only logical explanation remaining was that we were bleeding oil internally someplace. After examining the interior of the block for anything obvious, we checked the fit of the cam to the bushing and it seemed snug enough. The next opportunity for excessive loss was the drain hole behind the cam bushing. So...

We drove the cam bushing to the rear a little more to partially cover the drain hole. Then we reversed the cam plug and drove it in sufficient to partially block the same hole from the opposite direction (all told, about 75% covered). Reinstalled the cam, cranked up the drill and... WHALLA! Ample oil now flowing to the lifter galley and through the oil line to the rockers.

Not exactly a "text book" fix you'd read in a shop manual, but it worked. Hope someone in the future finds it useful...

That doesn't sound right. There should be two holes and a groove between them in the rear cam bearing. The bottom hole is the feed and the top hole feeds the rocker.

Sorry, I wasn't clear...

The two cam holes in the bushing lined up perfectly with those in the block. That's why we were stumped.

The hole we "pinched" was a third hole just outside the bushing. It's just an open hole to the crankcase, evidently a drain.

Thanks!