56 Olds rocker arm shaft lubrication

Basic data of my car:
Olds 56 conv.
324 V8
4bbl carb.

I had to take the valve covers off, as they were leaking oil. Then came the suprise:

1) The valve covers were rusty on the inside.
2) The cylinder heads were rusty above the rocker arm shafts towards the carb.

I always thought that there was a lot of oil spraying around under the valve covers when the engine is operating.
How could there be rust, when lots of oil would spray around when the engine runs?
I started the engine with the valve covers off, no oil spraying!
The engine kept on idling and oil was coming out underneath the rocker arms on the shaft and was like "sweating out" underneath the springs, for the lubrication.

Is that the way the rocker arm shaft and the rockers are lubricated??

Any reason to be nervous?

Thanks for your kind help!

The German

 

Those engines are not like a SBC spraying oil everywhere. As long as ALL the rockers are oiling not to much of a issue.

 

There should be a small hole on the upper side of the rocker arm.
If you don't get any oil out of that hole, I'm assuming your rocker shafts are dirty inside and clogged up the oil flow.

 

Never mind the crusty looking engine. This is my spare...


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Thanks very much for your help!!