The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rocker arms oiler

Well in inspecting engine components on my 235 engine, I discovered a surprise. Lifting the valve cover my son called me over laughing to see if I spotted it. Immediately I saw that someone along the way must have damaged or lost the cap/bolt/whatever on the middle of the rocker arm shaft so that it was blowing out oil. Their solution was to wrap what appeared to be a bit of canvas material around the oiler and secure it with baling wire. (See attachment)

My question is what caps off this oiler, a bolt, cap, some type of plug? Thinking I could maybe thread using a tap and die set, but it would be difficult to keep metal shaving out of the tube. What suggestions might you have and please let me know what actually was here?

Hawkman - Presuming this is your 235 in the 1956 3100, the center oil connector should look like the below pictures. First picture shows 4 different oil connector styles depending on when the engines where built (yours outlined in red box). Second picture shows the oil connector in the rocker arm assembly correctly oriented for installation to the head. Looks like the feed tube that is supposed to be inserted into the hole in the head (see 3rd picture - which is actually later style connector) is broken off, meaning your engine isn't getting the top end oiling it needs.

There is a NORS (New Old Replacement Stock) one being offered on ebay 1953-58 235 rocker oil connector. I'm sure you can search further using the original GM# 3836566 or TRW 49001 to see if there are others out there at a better price.

Hope you find this helpful.

PS - You should check the hole in the head where this tube inserts to connect the oil galley feed to the rockers. It could be someone has plugged that off too as without it you'd have some serious oiling concerns.

this is 57 and newer. 56 and older had a drain in that position common thing to do was to pinch it off this held more oil in the shaft.
Jay D.

As long as the weep holes in ALL of the rocker arms (especially at the end of the shafts) are dribbling a little oil at fast idle, the leakage at the center is pretty much a moot point. That's how the contact patch between the rocker tips and the valve stems gets lubed. Later model rocker assemblies with the pinched-off drain tube in the middle run higher pressure inside the shafts than the earlier rocker assemblies, and the groove inside the rocker arm pivots is offset a little to retain more oil pressure inside the shaft. The rocker weep holes should seep, not squirt oil.
Jerry

Gdads51, yes it's my 1956 3100 235 engine. The closeup I attached doesn't show that there is a tube/shaft running down to the block, but there is. I have the engine on a stand and wrapped (to keep the damned dirt daubers out while doing clean up) but will check it out this week to see what I have now that I know what to look for. I greatly appreciate the super answers you have given me, Gdads51, Hotrod Lincoln, and Jay D. As always, you fellows have the answers.

As I progress along with this restoration I hope I can reciprocate helping others out as you've helped me.

Do you need parts? Let me know what you need!

Guys - Please have the parts conversation in a PM so we’re not busting the forums guidelines.

Gdad,

For some reason, that didn’t show up in my post. It was supposed to say if you need parts PM me.

Thanks Chris!