The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop valve train oil line

Hi I have a 1956 235 six cylinder engine that I am putting into my 51 half ton in place of the 216,the problem is the 235 engine I purchased is missing the external valve train oil line from the engine block to the cylinder head can someone tell me where I might find one or what size copper line should I use to make one up Thanks Tim

Most of the newer engines have an internal oil passage that feeds the head, so the line is not needed. I believe it feeds the rocker arms through a drilled hole beside the center head bolt on the passenger's side. If that gets clogged, there's a provision for an external line to be added by putting a fitting into the 1/8" pipe plug in the head near that bolt. The ones I've seen with the add-on line get the oil from the port on the driver's side where the pressure gauge line attaches. The line diameter could be 1/8" or 3/16".
Jerry

Tim,

Although I'm not 100% sure on this, I believe that until at least '58 and for sure '59, the engines used a 1/8" copper tube from the rear cam bearing to the center oiler of the rocker assembly. This line was located under the push rod side cover. The copper tube is easy to find but the little compression fittings aren't your everyday item...if I recall correctly.

Are you calling the missing line under the pushrods an 'external' line, or is your setup as Jerry described, running from one side to the other. I have never seen this arrangement in a factory manual.

Stuart

my line is on the outside and runs from just above the oil pan on the right side middle of engine block on the same place the oil pressure guage goes facing the engine to the left rear of the cylinder head I assume that it has to be a correct size it seems that the size may affect the oil pressure

That line might have been added later for some reason. As stated earlier your '56 235 sholud have a line under the valve lifter cover. Perhaps it is plugged,so someone added the external line as the easiest fix.