I'm new to this forum but I feel this place can help me with my 56 Ford Club Wagon.  It has a 292 Y-Block that per the odometer has 50,000 miles.  Hopefully, its not 150,000 miles.  I've converted to a spin-on oil filter and dropped and cleaned the oil pan.  The pan must of had 1/2" of sludge and dirt on the bottom that I removed with a putty knife.
The engine runs well but I'm not getting a lot of oil up to the rocker arms. 
My question is, "What causes this and how do I fix it?"

How much oil are you getting? Y-block oil doesn't splash around like others. If you see oil dribbling down the rocker to the tip that's good. Check and make sure each rocker is oiling. If not you may need to remove the rocker shafts and clean them out. They have a small plug in each end of the shaft that you can knock out. Replacements can be found at a decent auto store. Clean the tubes and make sure the holes to feed the rockers are clear. Do you have a oil pressure gauge? If not get one and at least check it at the block. Let us know what kind of pressure you have. 
Also, put your location like city/state in your tag line so we have an idea where you are located. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

The Y blocks only get top end oil from the #3 cam bearing, the bearing has a groove in it, but its not very deep or wide. If you had a lot of gunk in the pan, the passage from the cam bearing up through the heads may be about stopped up with gunk.

I’m in agreement with Chuck in that if you are getting oil to both sets of rockers, you are likely getting enough oil.  The oil flow to the top end was minimal to begin with and a majority of it does run to the overflow tubes rather than flow from the rockers themselves.  The exception to this is if the rockers are pressurized by eliminating or pinching the overflow tubes.  Running a hotter thermostat also helps in keeping the oil from sludging up as quickly.  Using good quality detergent multi-viscosity oil with more frequent changes will also help to clean up the existing system.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Thanks for the helpful and quick replies.  I'm getting a small amount of oil to both rocker.  In an effort to improve oil flow I'll try and remove as much sludge as possible without a major engine disassembly.  The rockers assemblies will be removed and cleaned.  I'll also clean the holes which supply the oil through the heads and into the rockers.  Hopefully this will help.  I'm glad I found this forum.  (Hudson, Ohio, North of Akron about 8 miles)

The oil passages in the head can be a culprit. There is a sharp dog leg in the passage that make it near impossible to get a rod through it. If you have an air compressor sometimes solvent soaking and air blasts will clear them out. As far as the center cam bearing I would think running a high detergent oil might help. Chuck




Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Be careful not to push and subsequently compact the crud down into the supply holes.  With the rockers off, you might try removing the distributor, and then turn the oil pump with a drill in reverse.  

Great forum.  In my effort to improve oil flow to the rockers I followed the advice and did the following:
1) Removed the rockers and had them chemically dipped.  Afterwards I made sure the internals of the 
    rocker tube was clean and not gummed up.
2) Cleaned the top of the head with a brush and paper towels using SeaFoam as a solvent.  The push  
    rods were also removed and cleaned and replaced back in order.
3) Using an oil can, I dripped Seafoam into the holes (2) which feeds the rockers.  This was done to both
     sides until half the can was used.  The idea here was to dissolve any sludge with SeaFoam and wash it
     into the oil pan.
4)  Reassembly, oil and filter change plus added a sludge remover additive to the oil.

I'm now getting a better flow of oil to the rockers on the left (driver) side.  The right side is getting a much smaller amount of oil, but it is getting some.  I think this helped.  I'll check oil flow to the rockers at my next oil change.