The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 1942 California Big Bolt Pre-Start

So far, just cleaning, and I am in no hurry to start this engine! Do any of you know about the add-on oil director tubes that I have heard about from some of the mechanics who worked on these engines back in the day? As a shop-rat from the 1970's I've only worked on a few 216's and pre-1954 235's so there are things I just haven't seen on the bench. These tubes are said to be something you could bolt in, inside the oil pan, that hooked up to the oil system and directed oil to the cups on the rods? Thank you for anything you may be able to share. John-

I am curious what you are talking about. All 216's and splash 235's have tubes in the pan from the factory to squirt oil at the dippers.

All the splash-oilers have those tubes. The important thing is to get them targeted right while the pan is off. Draws an "X" with a sharp-pointed scribe straight across from each squirt nozzle, attach a garden hose to the supply tube, and bend the tubes until the stream of water hits the center of the X. At speeds above idle, the oil squirts directly into the dipper instead of picking it up out of the trough. There was once a fixture for setting the squirt tube alignment, but they're scarce and expensive now if they can be found at all. BTW, the alignment dimensions for the troughs and the dippers are different for 216 and 235 rods and oil pans. Splash-oil 235 pans will have a big "235" stamped into the side of the pan. The difference is the stroke- - - -a 216 pan on a 235 engine will end up with the rod dippers hitting the troughs.
Jerry

Jerry is correct in that original 235 pans have a raised 235 stamped on the passenger side. But the pans are essentially the same as 216 (and listed as the same in the parts book) except for the trough and dipper adjustment. It explains all about it in this LINK

Thank you all for the input on the oilers on my '42. I believe that what I was told by my dear friend who worked as a mechanic in the early 1940's has more to do with a fixture for setting the squirt tube alignment as Jerry pointed described. In any case, the pan is coming off for an inspection before I light this thing off due it sitting for the past ten years and not run. John-

Good idea. On rare occasions I've seen troughs with holes rusted in them from moisture getting into the pan on an engine that hasn't been run in a long time. That rod will be starved for oil because the trough empties itself at idle. Even if that's not the case, a good cleanup of the pan can't hurt.
Jerry