| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,090 Posts1,056,024 Members48,432 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: May 2014 Posts: 44 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2014 Posts: 44 | I am in the process of installing the oil distributor in a 216 from a 1951 3100.
My oil distributor has a sheet metal cylinder around the spring. This does not match the picture in the shop manual. Is this normal? Prior to engine tear down I could never get oil to the rockers.
This is a complete rebuild of the engine and I just want to make sure this is a correct oil distributor.
Thanks in advance for your help! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,788 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,788 | The purpose of the oil distributor is to restrict oil flow to the upper end of the engine until the main bearings and rod dipper fill tubes receive at least 15 PSI of oil pressure. An engine with badly worn main and/or cam bearings will never make enough pressure to overcome the oil distributor spring, so it cuts off oil to the top end to prevent seizing up the crankshaft. A splash-oiler 235 I tore down some time ago had the same type of sleeve around the spring.
Have you checked the supply tube that runs diagonally through the water jacket to see if it's restricted?
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2014 Posts: 44 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2014 Posts: 44 | When I used a drill motor to spin the oil pump it would produce 15lbs of oil pressure. The motor was too far gone to ever hope of getting it running. Very little compression. I could squirt wd40 thru the line so I a pretty sure it was not plugged.
If I replace the oil line and install the oil distributor with a new oil pump, should I be able to get flow spinning the oil pump thru the distributor hole?
The engine has been completely rebuilt up to installing the oil pump, etc.
Thanks for your help! | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,788 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,788 | Did you pre-oil the pump, or maybe pack it with Vaseline before installing it? If so, you should have no problems pressurizing the system with a drill motor. It sounds like the oil distributor was doing its job- - - -protecting the lower end while restricting the flow to the top end, at least somewhat. Most likely, there was probably a little oil getting to the head with the engine at highway speed, just little or none at idle. If you have tightened up the main and cam bearing clearances (Cam bearings are VERY important) the oil flow to the top end should improve.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: May 2014 Posts: 44 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2014 Posts: 44 | | | |
|
|
| |
