whats the best way to modify the oiling system. remove the oiling tube on rocker assembly and plug it or just cut the v and drill the hole at the bottom of the lifter valley? just curious. dont wanna fudge up my motor? hear these motors had oiling problems on the top side.

 

If you have the special rocker oiling kit previously installed because the top end was starving for oil, the only way you are going to fix the problem is to tear the engine down and have the thing tanked to get rid of all of the crud that has built up in the internal passage ways. If the issue is just the cam and bearings then you could go the route of enlarging the grove, assuming yours isn't cross-drilled. There is also a mod where you drill and chamfer holes in the valley of the block to allow better oil flow, you'd have to look that up cause I don't remember the specifics of it.

 

As juterbok hinted, the best assurance to good top end oiling is a good condition engine and regular oil change.

If the motor has been in service many years, MINIMAL service should include pulling oil pan and cleaning the crud out of it, as well as the pickup screen. Next would include taking off the rocker assemblies, removing the rockers along with one of the end plugs on the shaft and cleaning the internal shaft. With the pan off you might as well put on a new oil pump.

As for blocking the rocker oil flow tubes to put more pressure in the shaft, I tried that once. You end up with too much oil on top of the head, which adds to gasket leaks and oil being sucked past the guide and valve.

Ys guys need to know that the Y block's "oiling problem" was if anything, due to old oil technology with few detergents, motors left in service too long before rebuild, and/or poor maintenance. Almost anytime my truck is in public someone who is all knowing will look at the motor and if they recognize it will have something to say about the Y and its "oiling problem". Happened again last night. It is time to set things straight!
A good condition motor, with good oil and maintenance doesnt have an top end oiling problem.

Regarding drilling and chamfering holes in the valley, I am not positive about that but 60% sure it isnt necessary. One Y expert somehow installed a piece of plexiglass over the valley for a trial to evaluate how much oil was available in the valley and to the lifters from the top side at different rpms. Based upon his observation there was more than enough oil flying around.

 

46yblock, I agree completely with what you are saying. I hadn't heard about the plexiglass valley cover trial. It's been at least 3 years since I have done any real research into the Y's. I had my 61 f100 with a good low milage rebuilt 292Y but I was collecting all of the parts to build a top notch bored and stroked Y. I still have the parts to build the Y except for rods/pistons/cam plus anything aluminum I might want to add. Someday I'll have time for old fords again and then I'll build another f-something and drop the beast into it with a built T-5 tranny and top notch Ford 9inch with some really tall gears.

 

P.S. I miss my f100

 

You may be able to pick up a good 58-64 F-100 through Craigslist. I put out a wanted add on our local listing and received two responses for complete 1964 models. One was a 4X4 and the other 4X2. Each party wanted $250, and each truck had a tired (read worn out) 292. This is a low population area compared to many.

I was only wanting a 292 parts motor, so didnt take the offers.

Mike

 

I would do that but I had to get rid of my last one due to lack of space and time to work on it before it ended up rotted into the ground. By the time I gave it to the person who bought my house after I moved from PA to NC the poor truck had sat long enough that the brakes were all shot, exhaust system was gone, one intake valve was sticking bad enough to drop a push rod and the rust was just getting worse. I bought another old house and now have a son who is 8 weeks old and no place large enough to actually work on a truck. My garage is from the model-T/A era and is only large enough to work on a ricer if I empty the entire contents. Some day I will get back to another 60's f-series it'll just be a while.