The Ford Barn

George/Maine · 06-11-2013, 03:41 PM

I just bought a 54Ford car with a 223 6 and there is no oil to rockers.
This looks to be a rebuilt engine, every thing is clean.
My guess the cam bearing are in wrong, thinking of drilling into bearing, but what if the bottom is also not lined up. Any info.
George

streetdreams · 06-11-2013, 06:54 PM

I'd loosen the rocker arm assembly so it clears the head and crank the engine, seeing if oil is making it to the head. If not, it could be the cam bearing, or the passage blocked for another reason. If oil is present, the rocker arm pedestals could be mixed up, or the rocker shaft plugged. I guess I'd check everything I could before looking at cam bearings, as the engine will need to come out for a partial teardown to install the bearings properly.

George/Maine · 06-12-2013, 03:35 AM

Everything is clean, cam bearing area is were it exits by 2 tube to rocker shaft.
under power with plugs out I see no oil out of both holes.I hate to say it but think it was put together wrong.This engine is like new and clean.Its not the same as y block no oil out of head. I don,t know these engines are get hard to find.

streetdreams · 06-12-2013, 07:13 AM

You're probably right, unfortunately. I've had several nicely rebuilt Y-blocks in over the years for oiling issues due to misinstalled cam bearings. Sometimes the younger guys in the shops just aren't aware of some of the pitfalls of the older engines.

41ford1 · 06-27-2013, 08:31 PM

BTT George,
It seems like found your problem. Incorrect assembly. You still have the external oiling option. Its not optimal but it will get oil to the top end. The kits to do this show up on the auction site every so often. They run a tube from the oil pressure sender port to one of the rocker cover hold downs. The modified hold down is drilled to bring oil into the rocker shaft. If you can't find a kit you should be able to make one.

George/Maine · 06-28-2013, 01:20 PM

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I think the cam bearing is in wrong no oil to rocker.
Someone came to the same conclusion.
They put a 1/8 line and I thought it was to small,
thing ran it in small hole in end of cover,
then made a plug with hole and put it in shaft.
There are two lines, rear is feed and front is return.
I bent the rear line up and made bend longer and cut off.
Then drilled hole in cover 3/8" and used a 1/4 grommet and 2 clamps.
I also took the shaft apart and everything was clean put 2 new plugs in ends.
I set the tapers at .019 and will run for awhile they all got mixed up.
Need to be .015 hot.
So far good, rained last night want to go to cruise night. maybe tonight.
Pic

41ford1 · 06-29-2013, 08:24 PM

George,
How does the top end sound with lash set a .019"?

George/Maine · 06-30-2013, 06:13 AM

Book says .019 cold for startup, doesn't sound to bad little noisy.
I ordered gaskets from Macs on the 6 12 2013 and still have not got them as of to day 6 -30. Got other parts gaskets on backorder
These 10%ers
I should have gone to NAPA
slow boat to china I guess

George/Maine · 07-01-2013, 03:57 AM

This is very strange car it has only 20,000 miles.
I have no idea when the small oil line was put on the rocker shaft.
The more I think about this oil doesn't go thru cam bearing.
I wonder if this was a car that never got drilled at factory.
If anyone is working on a 223 6 how does the oil feed to rocker back line.
Does that color on engine look original?

41ford1 · 07-02-2013, 05:18 PM

George,
Take a look at this. http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/94...cker-arms.html

phartman · 07-02-2013, 05:44 PM

George, call Warren Henley at Page Customs here in Richmond, VA. Warren built my 223 inliner. It now has 13,000 miles on the rebuild, 50# oil pressure when it is hot, and it runs like a champ. He is familiar with the idiosyncracies of these humbly proud little motors.

Warren can be reached at 804 784-5541, M-F during the day. Tell him Pete told you to call.

George/Maine · 07-03-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 41ford1

George,
Take a look at this. http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/94...cker-arms.html

41 Ford
After reading the posts my car is just has normal problem.
update I removed the rubber hose that was 1/4" and replaced it with 1/4" tubing trying to reduce the amount of oil.
I replaced the gasket and looks ok.
This car really goes good 70mph no problem with the OD.
Thanks for info.

Tinker · 07-03-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by George/Maine

Book says .019 cold for startup, doesn't sound to bad little noisy.
I ordered gaskets from Macs on the 6 12 2013 and still have not got them as of to day 6 -30. Got other parts gaskets on backorder
These 10%ers
I should have gone to NAPA
slow boat to china I guess

Curious, did you order online from macs?

George/Maine · 07-03-2013, 11:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinker

Curious, did you order online from macs?

I ordered on line on the 12 June and called July 1 still on backorder.
I canceled the order, they could have said out of stock.
I got next day from AutoZone.

Bill in Al · 07-06-2013, 07:40 PM

You'll be suprised to find that you can outrun the

V8 '54 up to about 60 mph + -

columbiA · 07-06-2013, 08:03 PM

The Y block V8,swith high milage engines &lack of regular oil changes would have the small oil passage between block & head get blocked with carbon & no oil would get to rockers.Thats why the ubiquitous outside oiler kit was seen on so many engines In the mid 60,s,I had a 56 Ford 6 cyl station wagon as my daily driver.One day,I was driving the 7 miles to work & 1/2 way there, the oil pressure dropped to zero.Luckily,I had extra oil so I poured in about 3 extra quarts so that I knew I would at least have splash oiling & continued on to work.At the end of the shift,I drove home with no problem.The next day I pulled the distributor & found that the hex shaft that drove the oil pump had rounded off where it fit in dist & wouldnt drive oil pump.My repair was to cut off an Allen wrench to the right length & braze it to the bottom of the dist as the hex on dist was also worn a bit.The repair worked like a charm & was working fine when I sold the car a year or so later.

06-11-2013, 03:41 PM	#1
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers I just bought a 54Ford car with a 223 6 and there is no oil to rockers. This looks to be a rebuilt engine, every thing is clean. My guess the cam bearing are in wrong, thinking of drilling into bearing, but what if the bottom is also not lined up. Any info. George

06-11-2013, 06:54 PM	#2
streetdreams Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Howell, Michigan, USA, The Peoples Slightly Overspent Demodependancy of Michigan Posts: 638	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers I'd loosen the rocker arm assembly so it clears the head and crank the engine, seeing if oil is making it to the head. If not, it could be the cam bearing, or the passage blocked for another reason. If oil is present, the rocker arm pedestals could be mixed up, or the rocker shaft plugged. I guess I'd check everything I could before looking at cam bearings, as the engine will need to come out for a partial teardown to install the bearings properly.

06-12-2013, 03:35 AM	#3
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers Everything is clean, cam bearing area is were it exits by 2 tube to rocker shaft. under power with plugs out I see no oil out of both holes.I hate to say it but think it was put together wrong.This engine is like new and clean.Its not the same as y block no oil out of head. I don,t know these engines are get hard to find.

06-12-2013, 07:13 AM	#4
streetdreams Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Howell, Michigan, USA, The Peoples Slightly Overspent Demodependancy of Michigan Posts: 638	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers You're probably right, unfortunately. I've had several nicely rebuilt Y-blocks in over the years for oiling issues due to misinstalled cam bearings. Sometimes the younger guys in the shops just aren't aware of some of the pitfalls of the older engines.

06-27-2013, 08:31 PM	#5
41ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ManchVegas, New Hampshah Posts: 1,589	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers BTT George, It seems like found your problem. Incorrect assembly. You still have the external oiling option. Its not optimal but it will get oil to the top end. The kits to do this show up on the auction site every so often. They run a tube from the oil pressure sender port to one of the rocker cover hold downs. The modified hold down is drilled to bring oil into the rocker shaft. If you can't find a kit you should be able to make one.

06-28-2013, 01:20 PM	#6
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I think the cam bearing is in wrong no oil to rocker. Someone came to the same conclusion. They put a 1/8 line and I thought it was to small, thing ran it in small hole in end of cover, then made a plug with hole and put it in shaft. There are two lines, rear is feed and front is return. I bent the rear line up and made bend longer and cut off. Then drilled hole in cover 3/8" and used a 1/4 grommet and 2 clamps. I also took the shaft apart and everything was clean put 2 new plugs in ends. I set the tapers at .019 and will run for awhile they all got mixed up. Need to be .015 hot. So far good, rained last night want to go to cruise night. maybe tonight. Pic

06-29-2013, 08:24 PM	#7
41ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ManchVegas, New Hampshah Posts: 1,589	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers George, How does the top end sound with lash set a .019"?

06-30-2013, 06:13 AM	#8
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers Book says .019 cold for startup, doesn't sound to bad little noisy. I ordered gaskets from Macs on the 6 12 2013 and still have not got them as of to day 6 -30. Got other parts gaskets on backorder These 10%ers I should have gone to NAPA slow boat to china I guess

07-01-2013, 03:57 AM	#9
George/Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mid coast Maine Posts: 1,878	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers This is very strange car it has only 20,000 miles. I have no idea when the small oil line was put on the rocker shaft. The more I think about this oil doesn't go thru cam bearing. I wonder if this was a car that never got drilled at factory. If anyone is working on a 223 6 how does the oil feed to rocker back line. Does that color on engine look original?

07-02-2013, 05:18 PM	#10
41ford1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ManchVegas, New Hampshah Posts: 1,589	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers George, Take a look at this. http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/94...cker-arms.html

07-02-2013, 05:44 PM	#11
phartman Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 339	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers George, call Warren Henley at Page Customs here in Richmond, VA. Warren built my 223 inliner. It now has 13,000 miles on the rebuild, 50# oil pressure when it is hot, and it runs like a champ. He is familiar with the idiosyncracies of these humbly proud little motors. Warren can be reached at 804 784-5541, M-F during the day. Tell him Pete told you to call.

07-06-2013, 07:40 PM	#15
Bill in Al Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Pell City (New London) Al Posts: 317	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers You'll be suprised to find that you can outrun the V8 '54 up to about 60 mph + -

07-06-2013, 08:03 PM	#16
columbiA Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 1,746	Re: 1954 Ford 223-6 no oil to rockers The Y block V8,swith high milage engines &lack of regular oil changes would have the small oil passage between block & head get blocked with carbon & no oil would get to rockers.Thats why the ubiquitous outside oiler kit was seen on so many engines In the mid 60,s,I had a 56 Ford 6 cyl station wagon as my daily driver.One day,I was driving the 7 miles to work & 1/2 way there, the oil pressure dropped to zero.Luckily,I had extra oil so I poured in about 3 extra quarts so that I knew I would at least have splash oiling & continued on to work.At the end of the shift,I drove home with no problem.The next day I pulled the distributor & found that the hex shaft that drove the oil pump had rounded off where it fit in dist & wouldnt drive oil pump.My repair was to cut off an Allen wrench to the right length & braze it to the bottom of the dist as the hex on dist was also worn a bit.The repair worked like a charm & was working fine when I sold the car a year or so later.