Oiling The Barn Find Engine

[Bob Bidonde]

There is a rule of thumb to pour one quart of motor oil down the distributor hole in the cylinder head to assure that the crankshaft & camshaft bearings have an oil supply. This oil fills the reservoirs in the valve chamber. This is a very good practice.
However, the oil return pipe provides the oil that fills the dip tray, so the connecting rod bearings get oil. Considering the dip tray holds the better part of a quart of oil, I suggest that you put 2 quarts of motor oil or down the distributor hole so the oil overflows down the return pipe and fills the dip tray. It's likely there may already be oil in the dip tray, but to be sure add a 2nd quart of oil down the distributor hole.

 

[Fullraceflathead]

Oil poured through the fill pipe also goes straight to the drip tray.

 

[Big hammer]

Hopefully after draining the oil pan ! One quart down the distributor hole is fine, oil down the filler pipe dumps into the dipper tray. When I change the oil I leave the plug out and pour one quart of oil down the fill pipe , this flushes the dipper tray. Reinstall the plug and fill with oil .

 

[mcgarrett]

Bob B,
With barn find engines I do this just as you recommend, but only after I have removed the valve chamber cover and scooped out all the sludge that has accumulated in there. I think it's important to include that step too.

 

[J Franklin]

Oil down the distributor hole fills the valve chamber, there it feeds the mains. The oil return feeds the pan. The oil filler pipe feeds the dip tray and the pan. with a barn find engine after cleaning the valve chamber and pan, add the last 1 qt down the distributor hole and a few squirts in each cylinder and turn engine through a few cycles to get it ready to start.