I've got an old, crusty 332 that hasn't run in decades. Well, it's running now - pretty well actually. But it doesn't appear to be getting oil under the valve covers. It's also mighty cruddy under there. How can I go about cleaning up the oil passages? I'm not sure how oil gets into and out of this area. And is it advisable to clean all the gunk off - or just let it burn off?
It oils through the rocker shaft via a passage through one of the stands that goes down through the head and intersects with one of the oil passages on the block. It's not uncommon for the passage to get blocked with crud.
Pull the rocker shaft assemblies as well as the distributor. Hook a drill motor up to the oil pump shaft and spin it (long extension with thinwall socket will work). Look for oil out of the oil feed passage. No oil..... gently run a straight wire through to clear crude and re-test.
Had a 302 in a ot bronco that was gummed up something fierce pull valve covers scraped out what I could pulled distributor put some diesel fuel in the crank case primed oil pump with a drill till it was oiling. Put it back together changed oil with some real cheap stuff added more diesel fuel to the oil let it idle. Change oil in it one more time but drove it about 100 miles then change oil again cleaned it out never ticked again that was three years ago still runs great Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
So you added diesel to the oil to help break the gunk up. Did you run the engine like this? Or is that a recipe for disaster?
You want to avoid putting anything in the oil that loosens so much stuff up that it blocks the oil pickup screen. Then you have no oil pressure anywhere. Companies like BG make oil system cleaners. In our shop we've seen these cleaners cause as many or more problems than they fix. I've never tried diesel fuel in the oil. The problem is that lack of maintenance is just about impossible to reverse without spending lots of money and time. Mr t body has the right idea for the short term solution.
If you pull off the rocker stands make sure you keep the bolts in the correct placement. The bolt that goes in the head/stand where the oil passage is has a smaller shoulder. As far as I know this is true with all FEs. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Way back in the day, when 272, 292, 312 Fords would develop the upper oiling problem, the valve train of course would clatter really bad. A local used car guy would remove the valve covers, soak old burlap feed sacks with oil, lay one on top of each set of rocker arms and shafts, install valve covers........and get the car to auction the next day !!!!
here's a video of the engine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ray2irk4WPw&feature=youtu.be You can see what Im talking about. lots of crud. Not much oil. I didn't see where the oil inlets and outlets would be.
Use a metal coat hanger. Run it through all the oil passages in the head. If you have s way prime the pump with a drill. This should force any of the crud in the passages out. Had to do this on a rebuilt 428 as the builder didn't hot tank the block after machining and the passages were filled with shavings.
I had one come in years back for leaky valve cover gaskets, found pieces of old bed spread neatly cut out to fit the valve cover contour. I advised him to take the car back, as he just bought it. He went back with his brother who was a NY State Trooper, in full uniform. They gave him back every cent on the spot. Bob
I've seen a few REALLY simple external oiling systems made. Not the best perhaps, but pretty simple, and less risk of causing a leak somewhere else. That gunk may very well be holding back a leak or 50, or keeping some parts in place.
Pulling the rocker ass. and cleaning them is first step then drain a qt. of oil and and replace it with some ATF and run it to clean the passages out. I ended up pulling the oil pan and checking pump pickup and it was damm near plugged.
Careful pulling the distributor. If that oil pump intermediate shaft comes loose and drops in the oil pan you are...............well you know.
The oil passage is under the 2nd rocker shaft bolt, or the third, , not the first or 5th. take the bolts out and you will see a big chamfer in one of the hole where the rocker bolts go into the head, that is the oil passage
The only real way to clean FE rockers/shafts is disassembly, or at the very least pull the cotter pin and then shaft plug and clean out the muck. Make sure they are re-assembled with the shaft oil holes as original, or plan on new down the (short) road.
I've used old speedometer cables to clean blocked oil galleys, as they are flexible, and will spiral out the sludge rather than forcing it downward. ---John
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