hey fellas...I've searched and searched and read previous posts, but still having difficulties troubleshooting my 53 belair. resurrected her little over a year ago, and now got her running/idling like a champ. took her around the block for the first time thanksgiving weekend, but here's where the problem comes in....(my research tells me its an early 216 since she's got 2 acorn nuts in center of the valve cover), but shouldn't i see oil coming up through the wheepholes in the rocker arms as she's running/idling? she's got good oil pressure pumping up into oil canister/filter ***embly, but nothing reaches the top of the engine to keep rocker arms oiled. any place she could be plugged? any advice/prior experience is much appreciated...
Check your casting number with this website ........http://www.inliners.org/. Under casting numbers on the left. If its manual then it's probably a splash oil motor unless auto then high pressure oil.
Early splash oiled 235's had the two acorn nuts too I believe. Either way, there's a copper line that runs from near the oil distributer, back into the block thru the main water jacket and up the pushrod side to the rockers. That line is thin and can get plugged or cracked easily. It's not hard to clear out or replace tho. Jim Carter sells em. Also check to see that the tail of the distributer is actually in the pump gear notch and then drop the pan to check the pickup screen if you're still not getting anything. Also, check out stovebolt.com, inliners.org and the HAMB 216 group - http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/group.php?groupid=653 - for tons of info.
Congrats on getting her running! At least you got to take her for a spin before winter really sets in. As for the oil- You should see a trickle of oil out of those weepholes but it won't be a 'ton' and it won't come gushing out like a full pressure car. Stock, these things only make around 15psi MAX at cruising speed. As mentioned you could check that copper line first. A lot of folks used to pinch that line over time to boost the oil pressure to the rockers to compensate for a weak oil pump or bad bearings. Those copper lines can crack and leak overtime or get plugged up & slow the oil flow. Double check by pulling the side cover off and checking where it comes out of the block fitting to see if its bent / cracked / leaking there. That's a common place where they seem to fail. Also, if your oil filter is getting good oil flow, how is it plumbed coming out of there and into the block? Did you reroute oil lines or just use what was on there? Good luck. Hopefully you'll have your '53 rolling again soon. (I have a '53 235 engine on a stand right now and the valve cover looks exactly like my '47 216. If you have the casting # we can verify what your motor really is for reference.)
http://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=23387 This article will answer all your questions. Good Luck! Caddy-o
Thanks for the advice fellas...going to get the side cover pulled off and see what I can find. She was sitting since '84 when I found her all grown up and in need of a little lovin, but she's coming back to life. Nothin could beat that first spin around the block...had me grinning from ear to ear. Will keep you guys posted after I get her cracked open tomorrow...thanks again!
My wife's 52 has the same head/valve cover but is a 235. As Already stated on hers oil trickles out of the weepholes.
TRAU- Keep the faith and good luck wrenchin' on that Chevy and stay in touch. Its fun to bring 'em back to life .
I just yanked a great running 6 banger 3 speed, from my 53 chevy. From what i understand, mine was a 216... but someone told me otherwise that it was a 235. My model is the plane jane 150 sedan. I have to check the numbers now to see what it really is. Mine has the bolts through the center of the valve cover as well. I put 8k miles on this baby in 2 years and it still ran great when i pulled it. And the car sat for 30 years! Reason for pulling is i Just need to keep up with traffic! haha so I'm joining the dark side of V8's! And I needed a change. If you were closer I'd say i'd sell you it... haha My oil pressure was always pretty low, like 12 to 15 lbs as well, but i figured it was because it was a splash oil engine. I have to check my #'s now to see what it really is. This thread has a lot of great information! Good Luck with your 53!
Make sure you have a 1/16th " restrictor fitting in your oil filter plumbing,it is needed to prevent too much oil pressure loose through the filter. temp plug the OF supply and see if that makes a difference.
She's aliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive! Yanked the side cover off to get to the copper line coming from the block through the head. I removed the line, disconnected the coil wire so that i could spin the engine over without starting to confirm that i was getting oil up TO that point. A few shots of starting fluid/air through the line, quick oil and filter change, and a rinse to remove all the sludge and gum she had acquired over the years, she was free of obstructions and ready to be reunited with her youth! Put her back together and watched her slick up just like she's supposed to....and i didn't even have to talk dirty to her!! Thanks for the advice fellas....now that i know she's looking promising, its on to figuring out if shes really a 216 or an early 235.
Great job! Nothing beats the sound of something roaring back to life. Glad you were able to get to the low pressure problem and hopefully that's all you'll need to do. Enjoy it, and thanks for updating us with the good news! S****e the block near the starter to locate casting #'s and check it out HERE to see what it is.
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