The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 Rocker Assy

Will a rocker assy that says it's for a '41-'58 235 work ok on a '59 235 engine?
What's the difference?
Darren

There are no rocker assemblies that span that many years.
1954-58, and 1959-62 for complete assemblies is correct.
1954-58 rockers have a groove inside each rocker that is centered. 1959-62 the groove is offset 1/4" from center.
If you use the rockers with centered grooves on 1959-62 engines you will get to much oil out of the vent holes on each rockers.
This can be over come easily if needed.

So if I use the older oiler tube that has the extra tube with the crimped end it should be OK?

1958 and earlier should not have a crimped tube but there is more to it than just that.
Up through 1958 the engines had a 1/16" orifice restricting the flow of oil to the rockers. Starting in 1959 the orifice size was increased to 11/32". This larger orifice offered almost no restriction. At the same time the overflow tube on the rocker connector was pinched off. Also at the same time the groove inside each rocker was offset 1/4" so it did nit line up with the supply hole at each rocker. This prevented oil from squirting out of the vent hole on each rocker.
If you use 1958 or earlier rockers on a 1959-62 engine you will have the best luck if you restrict the oil supply. Chev did this on replacement short blocks by selling you a plug to put in the block to block the original oil path and a special drilled head bolt drilled with a 1/16" hole for the oil to pass through.

On 1959-62 engines I work on that have 1958 or earlier rockers I install my own orifice, a 5/16" OD plug, .400" long, with a 1/16" hole drilled through the center in the head under where the rocker supply tube fits in the head. I then use a rocker connector with the overflow tube.