Y Block Rocker Shaft Overflow Tube

all american boy

all american boy

Well-known member
Fordy's

this talk about 'pressurizing' the rocker shafts.

it's a little clearer to say removing and

plugging where the overflow tubes were.

i'm not going to 'jump ship' on the Ford engineers

that made it this way.

sure probably all Ford engines after this

were rocker shafts only no overflow tubes.

that doesn't prove anything in my book.

Have A Nice Day!
 

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  • Y Block Rocker Oiling Tube.jpg
    Y Block Rocker Oiling Tube.jpg
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Although they Are called overflow tubes they do also provide lubrication for the distributor gear and the timing gears and chain. Just plugging the tubes without making the mods that Tim McMaster suggests will accelerate the wear of these components. I think it was Ole Don who simply restricts the output of the tubes to still accomplish this.
Regards
 
mr 55

i would think engine and oiling system were

made to leak out so much oil in all the

different spots.

plugging two of them up sounds like it

might not be a good thing back

'down the pipeline'!:)

Have A Nice Day!
 
Dont plug them. If someone would send a detailed discription of how to post pictures here, I'll write it up and show how I do mine. I have pctures of them with ten years service, they look as if they were put together yesterday.
 
fordy's

blocking OR restricting is not the way the

engine was designed.

i'm leaving them be.

i got enough work to do getting end plugs

out of rockershafts and running brush down through them.

Have A Nice Day!
 
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Dont plug them. If someone would send a detailed discription of how to post pictures here, I'll write it up and show how I do mine. I have pctures of them with ten years service, they look as if they were put together yesterday.
Click to expand...
Don, I upload all my photos to photobucket then when I want to post I simply paste the "IMG Code" directly into my reply post from the image information on photobucket. This is represented by chain link when the photo is opened in photobucket. It is the easiest way I have found. Works on all forums that allow pictures to be posted.
I usually use an iPad so have not set up a photo album under my profile. To do that I need to use my desktop computer which I hardly use.
Regards
 
Just got home from helping my friend fire up his 292 for the first time, we were just talking about this topic, and here it is on the top of the list.We didn't see much oil up in the valve covers, rocker shafts, so we shimmed up the oil pump spring and got good flow. That's when this idea came up. We both used to circle track 406 and427 FE's, the circle track trick on those was to insert a copper tube in the oil gallery hole to the rocker shafts, then screw in a carb jet. Worked good, nice flow at the rockers, plenty of oil down below. Mark
 
It is not a good idea to restrict the flow to the rockers unless you have made modification to the centre cam bearing to increase flow up top. Ted Eaton increases flow to the rockers by machining a groove behind the centre cam bearing, but stipulates not to make the groove too deep or it will take oil from general circulation and flood the rockers. He does not mention restricting flow however.
You can check what he does by referring to yblocksforever or going to his website.
There is a lot of debate about whether it is beneficial to restrict the rocker tubes - Tim McMaster swears by it.
Regards
 
mr 55

between this and the rocker arms

i've got some serious time coming

with the diesel fuel, parts cleaning brush & pan.

i'm going to get it clean and all passages clean

and then see what's what.

it's going in Drag T so pulling engine backout is no big.

Have A Nice Day!
 
all american boy said:
fordy's

blocking OR restricting is not the way the

engine was designed.

i'm leaving them be.

i got enough work to do getting end plugs

out of rockershafts and running brush down through them.

Have A Nice Day!
Click to expand...

The engine was designed 60 years ago! A few things have been learned since then. Enlarge the center cam journal groove for one. DuraBond cam bearings have recently been redesigned to improve Y top end oiling. C2AE rods were an improvement over the original EBU. C2AE blocks were an improvement over EDB. Longer main cap bolts were an improvement over earlier shorter ones. ARP bolts are an improvement over stock rod bolts. Forged pistons are an improvement over the original cast pistons. Forged HD cranks were an improvement over cast cranks. B 4V intakes are better than earlier A's. ..........
 
Ole Don said:
Dont plug them. If someone would send a detailed discription of how to post pictures here, I'll write it up and show how I do mine. I have pctures of them with ten years service, they look as if they were put together yesterday.
Click to expand...

Don,

If you want, put your pics and narrative into a Word document and email it to me and I'll be glad to post it all for you. I'd really like to see your process on this. I can PM my email address to you if you'd like.
 
Like many engines designed in the past there has been many improvements and why we are driving way superior engines in vehicles produced today,not only engine's but ,brakes, steering, just vehicles in general....My y-block is just plain ol' stock 272 that is just driven around town so it does the job the designers made it for,but i belive from the 50's design im sure they didnt hit the nail on the head with every aspect of the engine(for instance using the upgraded 57 and up distributor)..... i wouldnt mind having my rockers modifed but i dont feel qualified to do the job myself..........with any type of customization to vehicles, if it be to engines for upgrades or to making body sheet metal changes to make it look better in your opinion,,, there will always gonna be some that agree or disagree,nay-sayers....."IMO" I feel that tim mcmaster has proven time and time again with all the high performance y-blocks and y-blocks in general that he builds,that this modification works well,just take a look at you tube at his videos had see,he even has videos defending himself and modification on there........i dont have money or experience or extra y-blocks to build so i just drive mine as is, I say if you dont feel comfortable with the modifacation then dont do it and leave it at that, in other words "dont knock it tell you tried it",or better yet make some videos of a y-block with the arms pressurized and the harm its doing to back up there reason you disapprove.........

with any design there is always room for improvement's....

Just tried of statements with no back-up! atleast try to prove it yourself before you talk on it,how about taking a stab at proving it to yourself:
all american boy said:
i'm not going to 'jump ship' on the Ford engineers

that made it this way.

sure probably all Ford engines after this

were rocker shafts only no overflow tubes.

that doesn't prove anything in my book.

Have A Nice Day!
Click to expand...

Have A Nice Day!
 
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rick55 said:
Although they Are called overflow tubes they do also provide lubrication for the distributor gear and the timing gears and chain.
Click to expand...

The oil from the rockers still drains back into the valley to lube the distributor gear and the timing gears and chain. Nothing changes in that respect.

With the addition of Tim's mod the front block the timing chain gets more than enough lubrication.

The shaft should also be grooved ( It's groovy, man) for better oil dispersion and the farthest right shaft stand (the one that used to have the overflow tube) be modified to vent any vapor.

I'm running Dove rockers and I feel that the pressurized system is the way to go (for me) to ensure an oil "cushion" between the aluminum rocker and the steel shaft.

Not trying to change anyones mind, just saying what I feel is best for my engine.

picture.php

Notice in this picture I do have the O/F tube installed though it was pinched way down.
 
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fordy's

that oil pump has a volume and a pressure.

it delivers so much oil in so much time.

all those 'escapes' for the oil in the engine

can actually be measured.

ignoring facts and common sense and

doing something because 'somebody said so'

ain't the way you're going to see me doing anything!

Have A Nice Day!
 
Aren't you the same guy that told 56 ford Custom to remove the cooler from his Fordo in his truck and replace it with :eek: HOSE :eek:.

I would say that is "ignoring facts and common sense"...

Just my 1¢.
 
^^^^Hahaha! Thats some funny stuff right there ^^^^! Everytime I see a post from "All American boy" I think to my self not this guy again! LMAO
 
fordy's

will post pic's of nice clean rocker shafts.

those overflow tubes sure look old timey!:)

it's going to be interesting cleaning

those out.

i think a little bath in carb cleaner ought to do it!:)

Have A Nice Day!
 
54 mainline tim

this would probably make more sense to you

if you opened the hood of your car

once in a while!:)

it sounds like you've been 'main lining' something!

Have A Nice Day!
 
y blockhead

you're turn.

i tried everything in the book with that

'56 custom guy to get him to do one thing

that made sense.

i've learned my lesson.

something didn't add up right with that guy.

i'm getting that feeling about you there buddy.

Redondo Beach?

you could pass for wearing a pair a coveralls and

workboots with your toes sticking out the front

of one of them.

i don't how you've survived over there.

i don't care either.

Have A Nice Day!
 
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