Push Rods

[Clois Harlan]

Just a few questions for the FE pro's 1) Assuming hydraulic lifters, are all the FE push rods solid with ball tips? Can we use the type that has an oil hole drilled through the middle for rocker arm oiling, assuming they are the correct length etc? I am still hearing a little clatter on my engine and it doesn't appear to be oiling very well. New valve covers are virtually dry. My oil pressure is over 50# and I do have some oiling just not as much as I would like.

Any thoughts or suggestions.

[RICK LAKE]

Hi Clois I Have the same problem you do when my motor is hot. I have a 501-533 comp cam with hydr lifters in it their is restrictor in my shelby heads. PAW sells a 11/32 chrome moly push rod part#PR-705 you mite want to call and see what they say? They have the same push rod for both types of cams. Let me know what you find out. Rick Lake P.S. You would want to know if the pushrods and hollow in the middle to lube the rockerarm end.

[jwoodard]

Clois,

Oiling for the rockers comes from oil holes in the rocker shaft, not from the push rods.
On each rocker shaft there are four 3/8-16 bolts for the stands: one 3-19/64 in. long and three 2-31/32 in long. The long bolt is for the oil-feed hole in the cylinder head. The shank part of the bolt is narrower - necked down-to allow for oil to flow.
Make sure the two long bolts are in the right position-one for each shaft. The long bolt goes in the second hole from the front on the left shaft and in the second hole from the back on the right shaft.
If they're not in the right position you wont be getting proper oiling to the rockers. Only exception to this is for High-Riser heads where all four bolts are the same size, 2-1/2 in. long. High-Riser heads do not have a counterbore for the rocker stand bolts and the bolts are not necked-down. These heads have the oil hole, but the stands have an oil passage slot for oil to flow.

Jim

[Coloradocobra]

Clois,

Was this block ever modified for use with a solid lifer cam? If so, you may not be getting proper oil flow to you lifters unless the oiling system mods were removed/changed. It may be useful to find an old stamped valve cover and cut the top of it out. Install it on one bank and see what kind of oil flow you end up with in the top end.

A more common problem with the FE's is too much oil in the top end, hence the use of restrictors to limit the amount of oil going into the head. The open-top valve cover will also identify any drainage problems associated with too much oil.

Have you checked bleed down of your lifters to ensure that they are pumped up? I guess it is possible that you are essentially operating as a solid lift cam if there is no oil flow.

Troubleshooting is often no more than a process of elimination. Proving all of the above to be OK will narrow down the potential problems. The advice above about the stands and oiling should also be checked as I hear that is a common mistake when putting together an FE - kinda like head gaskets.

Good luck,

Gary