oil return trays under rockerarms-required or not?


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By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
I just had the rockershaft assemblys out of my 56 to clear the oil feed holes.I reinstalled one without the trays simply because it was easier than trying to line up the holes in the trays.I understand they were discontinued after 56.Do I need to put them back in?.I reset the the valve adjustment which I was doing anyway and it works fine.Were the pushrods a different length when used with the trays?
By Ol'ford nut - 16 Years Ago
If they were required Ford wouldn't of stopped using them. No change in pushrods. Some will tell you not needed if you use PC valve seals, many will say you only need seals on intake valves. It ends up being your choice. I have had some say they don't like PC seals because they keep too much oil from valve stem. I'm sure someone else will jump in here- choice is still yours.

I don't like the old umbrells, they get hard and crumble, plugging the oil returns.

By Gary - 16 Years Ago
Any suggestions on how to convert a 1955 4bbl oil bath air cleaner with 57carb & intake to dry filter element?  I don't know how to post yet!!  Thanks, Gary   
By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
Gary: If you click on the second box at top left where it says "ädd topic" and follow instructions by loging in with your email and password you can start a new topic of your own.Same way you add to an existing discussion.
By Nick Brann - 16 Years Ago
Hi Mark,  The oil trays that go under the rocker stands were most likely discontinued as a cost-cutting move.  The '54-55 engines came with them and also had a longer pushrod.  If you order for a '55 you'll get a pushrod that's approx. 8.297", for a later engine they should be approx. 8.188".  The trays are not necessary but they will reduce oil consumption in many cases.  My '57 312 always left a puff of smoke when I let off of the gas, shifted gears, and then got back on it.  So I got a set of the trays, and installed them with the longer '55 pushrods.  Problem solved.  The trays reduce the oil that is sprayed onto the valve stems.  This was with a fresh engine and new valve guides, and with the umbrella oil seals.  To answer your question, no you don't need to put them back in, but the next time you open it up to adjust the valves I would put them back.  And you may want to measure a few pushrods to see which length you have.  Could be anything after 50 years.  Good luck, Nick Brann - K.C., MO
By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
Hello Nick! Now the pushrods in mine are 8 1/8 not the longer 8 1/4.In my 55-56 Ford parts book the length for 55 is shown as 8 1/4 and 56 and later as the 8 1/8 (8.13 actually).Now I put one side back without the baffles and readjusted the valves.Works fine although i think I will put the baffles back in next time. So now my question is-do I have the wrong pushrods in mine?I am looking for a new set of pushrods becuse the cups are starting to crack.I would think that with the baffles the longer pushrod is required .Am I correct in saying the ones I have now are incorrect?When I had a look at my parts catalogue printed in 1957 to cover 55-56-57 the only pushrod listed is the shorter one even though the baffles are still listed as a service part#.Did they simply use the shorter one to cover all years of y-block?Anyone know the correct answer?
By Nick Brann - 16 Years Ago
Hi Mark,  There was an excellent article a couple of years ago in Y-Block Magazine re. this subject.  It was written by Ted Eaton and the subject was correct rocker arm geometry and pushrod length for Y-blocks.  Sorry but I can't find my issue, so I can't tell you exactly which one to order.  Hopefully someone will chime in here.  Anyway there are several factors, including if the heads have ever been milled.  What to look for- where are your rocker adjusting screws once you have your valves adjusted?  If they are almost all the way down (so that most of the screw is sticking out of the bottom of the rocker) then your pushrods are too short.  That was the case with my 312.  Once the valves were adjusted, the hex part of the adjusting screw (at the top) was almost hitting the top of the rocker arm.  I could barely adjust the valves without the screws bottoming out on the top of the rockers.  I believe the adjusting screws should be about in the middle of their travel, see Ted's article.  If yours are almost all the way down, then your pushrods are too short.  I believe John Mummert also sells the aluminum rocker stands in different heights to compensate for a geometry problem.  And he sells the pushrods in both the long and short versions.  Some vendors probably show one pushrod fits all, but that is not a proper answer.  Good luck- Nick Brann, K.C., MO
By DANIEL TINDER - 16 Years Ago
Issues # 70 & 71. Terrific articles/invaluable data.
By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
Thanks for your input guys!I have ordered a set of the 8 1/4 longer rods from my local parts store.He does list the 2 different lengths.My motor is stock with the exception of the later manifold,distributor and 390 Holley.By the way this combination is a vast improvement over the stock Teapot setup for anyone who is still fighting with the loadomatic and stock carb and would like a reliable fun to drive setup.It looks like someone put the shorter rods in sometime in the distant past OR it was an error originally because the car is a 56 built in Nov 55 using up 55 parts.Maybe they ran out of the longer rods and put the deflectors and short rods in.
By Duck - 16 Years Ago
Mark & all; Thank you for this thread- I decided to go w/ the drip trays in this motor, but was unaware they required the use of '55 only pushrods. I just got off the horn w/ Egge, and my new set of longer pushrods is on it's way- sure would of been a lot of fun trying to set the lash for my first ever attempt w/ short pushrodsBlush.... -Thanks again- /Duck
By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
Now I have another question.Because this motor has been running with shorter pushrods than what was specified I am thinking it would not have gotten full lift at the valve.I realize its only 1/8 of an inch longer rod. By installing the correct pushrods there should be a slight increase in the amount the valve opens?Am I correct in this assumption?When I put the one side back together without the trays and using the shorter rods meant for use without the deflectors,the motor seemed to run stronger and smoother at idle.Can't wait to see what happens with the correct length rods on both sides and reinstalling the deflectors.
By Nick Brann - 16 Years Ago
Hi Mark,  Yes, if your pushrods are too short you will have less lift at the valve.  Once again I must refer you to Ted's excellent articles on the subject in Y-Block Magazine.  Probably something like .015" - .020" but enough to make a difference.  Another advantage of having correct rocker arm/ pushrod geometry is that you will reduce the wear on your valve guides, which also means less oil consumption due to less oil being sucked past the intake valves.  But just because I needed longer pushrods doesn't mean that all Y-blocks do, especially if the heads have been milled.  Good luck, Nick Brann - K.C., MO
By DANIEL TINDER - 16 Years Ago
After I installed high-ratio rockers, I did notice a certain valve train "balkiness" that soon disappeared. Must have taken some time for the built-up carbon to break away.
By Ted - 16 Years Ago
oldcarmark (8/13/2009)
Now I have another question. Because this motor has been running with shorter pushrods than what was specified I am thinking it would not have gotten full lift at the valve. I realize its only 1/8 of an inch but am I correct in my assumption? By installing the correct pushrods there should be a slight increase in the amount the valve opens? Am I correct in this assumption?
What Nick says X2.  Longer pushrods will increase the lift at the valve.  A rough estimate for a 0.125” longer pushrod agrees with Nick’s assesment in that it would be 0.017”-0.020” more lift at the valve on a camshaft that’s rated for 0.450” lift and using 1.54:1 rockers.  In my world, that’s a bunch.
By oldcarmark - 16 Years Ago
OK I have a couple more questions.I got my replacement pushrods which are USA made.They are 8 1/4 long.Much more heavy duty and a better cup design.My guess is the ones in now are original and were wrong from the time the car was new.I have installed one side because I am waiting for a couple of good used arms that one of the y-block forum regulars is sending me.Thanks Earl!2 of mine have no oil groove from running dry for years.When I installed the repacement pushrods I have 2 that are not turning when the motor is running as the others are.They are properly adjusted.Any idea why this is happening and is it a concern?These longer pushrods are to be used  with the oil return deflectors.If you used these with a motor not equipped with the trays you would end up with  slightly higher lift at the valve.Seems like a cheap way to get slightly more power without changing cams.Would there be a problem using them that way?What do you think Ted?By the way I do notice a difference  in power already only having done one side with the correct pushrods.
By John Mummert - 16 Years Ago
Much of the difference in pushrod length is due to the actual location of the valves in the head.

If you set an ECZ-G head next to a later small valve head, such as a C1TE, you will see that the valves, springs and rocker stands are raised approx. .100" in the C1TE. All of the small valve 60's heads require the longer pushrods for this reason.

I've never checked any 1954-55 heads next to 56 heads but the valves may be higher in the earlier heads.

By Vic Correnti - 16 Years Ago
Ted Eaton's web site has the two articles that were in the magazine.