I have a 235 CI engine manufactured late in 1953 for a 1954 model car with a Powerglide transmission.
I really don’t know the history of the engine or its components. Was told that the engine was a “crate motor” and both the head and the block were cast on the same day…but in the 72 years since then, who knows what has been done. I opened the pushrod cover and it seems very clean in there. The oil looks new, but at best I am assuming that the engine has been rebuilt.
I am moving toward starting the engine and today I spun the oil pump with a drill. It took a while, but eventually oil came out of the holes in the tops of SOME of the rocker arms. I rotated the crank by hand and managed to get oil to come out of one of the rockers that hadn’t shown any before…but a couple that had shown oil now were not…and a couple still haven’t shown any.
I have read a couple articles by “Chev235guy” about the oiling system for the 235s and a few threads on the forum about the oiling of the top end of these engines, but I still have concerns.
When I spin the oil pump with the drill, a noticeable amount of oil comes out from under the top of the arch of the rocker connector that loops over the rocker shaft and a whole bunch comes out of the end of that rocker connector tube dumping onto the head.
The rocker oil supply tube is in place under the side cover and I am getting oil to the top end…just worried that I am not getting enough to all the rockers.
Since I don’t know the history of the engine, and since the rockers are not all showing oil at the same time, should I be thinking about taking the rocker shaft apart and ensuring that everything is clean? (I have not idea how complicated that would be.)
Should I restrict the amount of oil that comes through the arched rocker connector tube?
Should I just keep spinning the oil pump to see if I can get oil to come out of all the rockers at the same time and evenly?
Should there be a hole in the underside of the top of the arch of the rocker connector (as there seems to be)? Since it is not under pressure, would it matter?
Thanks!
Nick 1940 KC Model 1/2 Ton Pickup Project (with '37-'39 Bed and what we think is a '42-'46 Frame) Taos, New Mexico
You should start the engine, not keep wasting time spinning the pump. Once the rockers are in motion, the oil will distribute itself much more effectively than when they're sitting still, and it only takes a tiny trickle of oil to keep the rocker shaft lubed. The only purpose for the spit holes on top is to get a little oil to run down the rocker arms and keep the top of the valve stems wet when the engine is idling. At highway speed, there's plenty of splash inside the valve cover to accomplish that task. Jerry
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