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loud 232 valve train fix! Simple!

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Heavy 488 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Heavy 488 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/02/2020 at 6:57pm
I don't recall who's 6 it was but I pulled the rocker assembly and rodded a wire chucked in a drill. Grind a flat on one side so it digs down to the cam bearing. Spray the hole out with brake clean. If you have compressed air, blow through it. . I was able to pitch that BS patch oil line. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/02/2020 at 11:31pm
Here's Matt's docs on the top oiling head bolt mod...


1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vinny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 1:45am
If I can find the time I'll try that with running a wire down. My thinking at the time was that the oil was not making it past the cam bearing. I did my own mod going through the side so the line is not so visible, unless one looks for it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 5:48am
Rotating the shaft 180 degrees works reasonably well -- if you can drill it. Might try a diamond bit intended for drilling glass. Get one long enough to go through the original hole then through the other side. You can't center punch the shaft, so the old hole will guide the bit.

It works because the shaft is never filled with oil, not even half filled. It might get close to half at the back since the engine is tilted a bit to the rear, but it wouldn't be under pressure, and that would only be when cold. There should just be a trickle of oil out the front of the shaft, a bit more from the back. I don't recall it ever being a steady stream from the front, but it's been a long time since I've messed with a shaft rocker six.

If the engine has been rebuilt recently the cam bearing might not be installed correctly and partially block the hole. Or it's possible, though not likely, that it has spun a little. More likely the oil hole in the block is just gunked up and partially blocked. The wire trick should clear it. After that you might want to try some engine oil flush. I've just added a quart of 50/50 diesel fuel and ATF to a fully warmed engine then let it idle for 5-10 minutes. Then change the oil, drain while still hot. Running a quart high won't hurt it at warm idle, just change the oil before driving as you don't want to load the engine with the thinned oil.
Frank Swygert
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote farna Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 5:55am
It's not uncommon to find collapsed lifters in a car that has sat a long time. I've had that issue with a 258 -- had to put new lifters in. Of course they might "come back" after an engine flush if they are just sticky from gunk. Might want to flush it twice... get some cheap oil for the second time, and put a hundred or so miles on it between to help loosen things up. It will either help or verify that you need new lifters (or a rocker shaft if there is obvious play in the rockers).

Some have been able to pull the lifters out from the top with a magnetic pick up tool. If yours have an oil hole in the center there is a special tool made for that. Whether you can get it through the top or not depends on your particular casting. I remember one guy who specifically ground some away when he had the head off for rebuilding so he could get the lifters out if necessary without removing the head (early 80s 258 head though, may not be able to on earlier models).
Frank Swygert
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tarbaby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 11:53am
Lots of good info, when I pulled the rocker shaft off there was a brown layer of old detergent type oil residue on entire assembly to the point where rockers were binding or stuck all together. I’m now thinking lifters are in the same condition so I’ll do it right and remove and replace lifters and sleep better
Frank Alarcon
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Heavy 488 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 1:17pm
Personally I'd only replace the lifters if all other avenues failed.
If you do try to pull and clean, they absolutely have to go back in the same hole they came out of.
You'll be introducing additional wear on an already near 50 year old cam with new lifters.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tarbaby Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 3:09pm
Head bolt mod.
Frank Alarcon
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 11:15pm
There's another mod to deliver oil to the shaft -- I had a head that had this done.

A center-ish rocker shaft bolt is drilled lengthwise from the top (head) down, then cross-drilled at whatever depth that is within the shaft.

A short length of 3/16" "brake line" is brazed to the head of the bolt.

A hole is drilled in the valve cover, and grommet installed.

When the valve cover is installed, the tubing pokes up in the air. Install a ferrule type fitting on the tube, mate it to a coupler and line and feed oil from the main gallery.

Once assembled, you have to poke the grommet into the hole to take the valve cover off. I did not use this head, but it occurred to me a better way to deal with the valve cover would be to cut a larger hole in it, make a curved sheet steel piece to fit inside the valve cover, a gasket between and pull the new piece up to the valve cover up with a couple sheet metal screws.

Personally engines with this trouble need the head pulled and boiled out, or a full teardown.  My bias however in things like this is that I generally have only one or two daily drivers and engines-on-the-edge makes me too nervous to drive very far. YMMV! lol



1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar/03/2020 at 11:17pm
nice looking car!

1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com

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