The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 58 block with a 54 head?

I am having oiling problems with the rocker assembly with my 235. I have a 58 block with a 54 head. I have read and studied up on the different oiling configurations on the different year blocks with the help of some knowledgable guys on the forums. I now know that i do not need a oiling line behind the lifter cover cause in 58 they incorporated it into the block. but now im wondering about the oil channels matching up between the 58 block and 54 head. Also i popped out the head bolt beside the oil channel and it was really oily so i think im gettin oil there but not past it. I think now I need the grooved head bolt that started with the 58 models. I do not have one and ive checked the other head bolts. Does anyone have a picture or instructions on how to make one or where i might can find one? Any info on this matter about the block/head and the grooved bolt will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

jaleg,

I hope that someone posts a photo of the bolt and/or of a bolt that has been adapted to work in your head/block combination.

Here is a thread with helpful information from Pre-68 Dave.

Well after finding out the block was a 58 this morning. And after studying on the shop manuals all day. I realized that the lifters changed in 58. They went from a straight lifter to a tapered one in the middle. I have the straight solid lifter. This is what is blocking my oil flow I think. ha. Luckily i have another 58 engine close by. So tomorrow I will see if it has the tapered lifters and try those out. Will still need the grooved head bolt though.

You only need a special head bolt on 1959-62 engines, and that is only if 1958 or earlier rockers are used, and a plug has been installed in the top of the block to block the original oil path.

i believe at least half my problem was the lifters but im still waiting on them. Pre 68 dave... The oil journal comes up through the head bolt hole. If i dont have the grooved bolt.. how does the oil get to the rocker tube?

In stock form the oil flows up around the bolt.

If you're planning to swap used lifters onto a camshaft they did not "break in" with, you're inviting disaster. The cam will wear out rapidly. Once a wear pattern is established, neither the cam nor the lifters should be run against another assembly. Even putting new lifters onto a used cam without getting it reground is risky business.
Jerry

Ive been slammed at work this week. I had a chance to mess with the engine some today. I have the notched lifters installed now and im getting oil all the way up to the head bolt hole now. Im testing it by spinning the oil pump with the one head bolt out. But now when i install the head bolt and tighten, its blocking my flow to the rockers. I have learned there is a passage that bypasses the threads of the bolt in the block. So basically im getting oil up through the head bolt hole but not through that bypass passage. Is there a chance that the head gasket is blocking the oil passage coming from the block? Wanted to get some info on it before i pulled the head. and once again thanks for the help!!

Ok. Finally figured my mystery among mysteries out. Finally pulled the head and checked the small passage that bypasses around headbolt. It was completely blocked. After some cleaning and poking and wiggling around in the passage I was finally able to get it clean. Popped the head back on and reassembled everything. Got the timing set and and walla!! Engine started up and now i have oil coming out of the rocker holes and oiling pretty good. Just wanted to thank everybody for all their knowledge and help. Maybe now, with all of my new knowledge, I maybe can help someone else with their problems. Thanks again. I have another question but im gonna start another thread for it.