FE Oil Restrictors

[RLSIDWELL]

I have searched through the forum concerning oil restrictors and was wondering if someone would take the time to explain what they are. I am using OEM 390 heads and have a Melling HV oil pump. Like others I have read about, I think I am getting too much oil on the top side. Can they be installed without removing the heads? Where do I get them, what size do I need, and where exactly do they get installed?

As always, I appreciate any input.

[AK1234]

If you remove the rocker shaft and the 5 posts ..... If you look I think it was the center pedistal has a oil hole where the oil is fed up to the shaft. That little hole in the head ... you need to add a restrictor. I dont think some thing like that is made ??? I used to take a carberator jet and fit it in the hole so the oil is restricted but not eliminated.

[Ibr8k4vetts]

Do a search here http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/

[FFR428]

[quote=AK1234]If you remove the rocker shaft and the 5 posts ....

Only 4 rocker stands there...

[Anthony]

I have read that if you use the standard style bushed rocker, to not restrict the oil. If you use roller bearing rockers, then to use the restictor.

[patrickt]

If you have too much oil up top, and you have no restrictors whatsoever, then you probably need them. On the FordFE forum there has been a long standing debate over the size of the restrictors though. There was *almost* a consensus at one time that .090 on a hydraulic setup and .060 on a solid setup was generally appropriate. A search of the forum will bring up many posts on the subject along with other factors that can help on the "too much oil up top" issue (smoothing out the drain back holes) and add-ons, such as roller rockers, that might reduce the need for oil up top as well. FWIW, I have .060 restrictors on my 428FE with a solid flat tappet cam with roller rockers and aluminum heads. Here's a link to a thread that I'd forgotten about where one fella is recommending .070 restrictors. http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/thread/1140835392/ Changing them is not major surgery, so you can always start large, and then restrict, until you find what suits.

[Excaliber]

Hmmm, my restrictor is in the BLOCK not the heads. It is at the back of the block where the main oil feed provides oil to the lifter galley.

How many restrictors and where are they located should be clarified, I guess...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Excaliber

Hmmm, my restrictor is in the BLOCK not the heads. It is at the back of the block where the main oil feed provides oil to the lifter galley.

How many restrictors and where are they located should be clarified, I guess...

There are restrictors for the block for when switching from a hydraulic cam to a solid cam, and restrictors for the heads to lessen the amount of oil that gets pushed up to the rockers, etc. Both do the same thing, just to different places on the engine.

[MaSnaka]

RLSidwell, How did you determine you have too much oil going to the topside? How do you know if your getting enough after installing restrictors? I am curious because I have wondered the same thing. I have a fe390 block and heads also. Thanks
John

[Ibr8k4vetts]

Originally Posted by MaSnaka

RLSidwell, How did you determine you have too much oil going to the topside? How do you know if your getting enough after installing restrictors? I am curious because I have wondered the same thing. I have a fe390 block and heads also. Thanks
John

I had a old junk yard valve cover that I cut hole in the top and covered with clear plastic then ran the engine with it installed

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RLSIDWELL

I am using OEM 390 heads and have a Melling HV oil pump.

You didn't mention what type of oil pan you have to go with your HV pump -- is it a stock OEM? Having too much oil up top is not particularly good, but having too little oil down low in the pan can be really, really bad. An after-market oil pan is a must for anything other than trips to the grocery store.

[RLSIDWELL]

I cut the top out of an old valve cover and when I ran the engine at idle, oil splashed everywhere. I didn't cover with plastic as Mike mentioned. I am running an OEM oil pan and now realize I need to change it. At this point, it seems putting restrictors will at least keep more in the bottom end and less in the heads. I am going to put .090 in and see what happens. Also, on another site I read where guys are using different size Holley carb jets for this purpose. They say to take the rocker shaft off and the jets fit nicely into the oil hole that feeds the shaft. Since the jets are about $7 per set, this seems rather economical. Any thoughts?

Thanks again for all the input.
Rick

[patrickt]

Holley jets are used all the time for restricting oil to the heads -- no problem at all with doing that.

[patrickt]

[MaSnaka]

It's painful to be as ignorant as I am on these issues of great importance. Basically I don't know if my engine (fe390 w/OEM 390 heads) has restrictors or not. Oil pressure is not as high as others, mine cold is at about 50psi and warmed up at temperature will drop to 25-30 while cruising. Makes me suspect I may need some restriction in the top. Other than that I have no other indication...I have not run the engine and physically observed oil flow. Is there only the one restricter per side to install or are there restrictors for each rocker shaft? If I open my valve covers and look to see, what do I need to look for ( I saw Pat's pic) and is this something you install while the engine is together or is that a no no. I'm sure I'll have more questions later. Thanks, John

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MaSnaka

cold is at about 50psi and warmed up at temperature will drop to 25-30 while cruising.

You might not have as much of a problem as you think. What sort of pressure do you have at different RPMs when the engine is hot? What sort of pan/pump combination do you have? Solid or hydraulic lifters? Has the engine been rebuilt recently? Ever? What oil are you using? How hard do you push your engine?

[RLSIDWELL]

John, It's my understanding that putting the restrictors in the heads will neither increase nor decrease oil pressure. In my case, I am looking at putting them in because I put in a high volume oil pump and as a consequence I am pumping too much oil into the rocker shaft/valve covers. I also understand I can put them in with the heads on the engine. I will just have to remove the rocker shaft. There are four bolts holding each shaft in place. If my memory serves me correctly, the second bolt hole from the left, as you stand facing each head is the one that has the oil passage feeding into the rocker shaft. I will be placing one on each side.

Rick

[Ibr8k4vetts]

I believe it is number Two bolt on the drivers side and number Three on the passenger side.

[ERA 626]

I run .050 on my edelbrock heads and they seem to work fine, you can get them from Gessford Machine.

[CJ428CJ]

Note that the Holley jets work fine if you're running cast iron heads. If you're running Edelbrock heads, the jets won't work because the oil passage in the head is considerably smaller. For my Edelbrock heads, I tapped the oil passage, cut a short length of "all thread" and drilled a small hole through the center. I made a screw driver notch in the end and then screwed it down into the tapped oil passage.

Chris