My 56 Monterey wagon has the original 312 with no recent rebulit that I can see. I want to install a external oiler which I have to prolong its original condition. Has anyone ever installed an external oiler? I am not sure which rocker arm caps to install the oiler caps. The caps that have the overflow tube seems to me to be the ones because there is a hole that goes into the rocker arm tube unlike the other caps. Any suggestions?

Thanks AR

You don't say, are you experiencing a lack of oiling up top on both sides, when running with the covers off?

Paul

No oil coming out of the overflow tubes. Very little oil at the rocker arms. Since I already have an external oiler kit I thought to get oil into the rocker arm tubes fast cannot be a bad thing. This would be more of a quick fix until I can spend more time chasing the problem.

Thanks AR

Try to diagnose the problem and see if there is a real problem and a better way to fix it.  First see if you are getting oil to the top, as suggested by Paul, if no oil dripping out of the rockers then take the rocker shafts off and run the oil pump with a drill motor to see if oil is atleast coming to the head.  If you have a cross drilled cam you may need to turn the engine over slowly while running the pump to line up the holes in the cam.  If there is still no oil try to clear the passage to the head with a pipe cleaner or blowing air back through, then run the pump again. 

If you do get oil to the top after the rockers have been removed, disassemble the rocker assemblies and clean them and the shafts out.  Check for wear, you may need to replace the shafts or maybe a rocker or two.

External oilers are not the best way to fix the problem, try to avoid them.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

You posted while I was typing.   If you are getting some oil up there but none out the overflow the shafts are more than likely clogged.  It will take no more time to disassemble them and clean them out than it would to install the external oilers.  Also if the shafts are clogged the external oilers wouldn't help anyway.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Good point!

I will take your advice and run with it!

Thanks again

AR

I agree.If you take it apart you will likely find the shafts plugged up with 50 years worth of crud.Each rocker arm has a small oil squirt hole at front AND back.Use a paper clip to clean out the small holes when you have it apart.To remove the end cap drill a small hole and screw in a sheet metal screw.Pull out with vise grips.Do the same at other end or use a rod to punch it out from the opposite end.Replacement caps available from auto supply or one of the speciality dealers who sell repro parts.Mark each arm(I used hacksaw to make 1 2 3 4 slots) on each arm.They should go back on in same order removed.The external oiler kits are a last resort if you cant fix it this way.

  

Thanks for all your input! This was my first time on the forum and I am impressed with the support that I found so quickly.

Thank you - AR

Welcome to the forum by the way! 

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

Hi SurfMerc,  Welcome to the forum.  To elaborate a little about the external oilers, they tend to take oil away from the main bearings and thus the cam bearings also.  Not a good situation.  It's best to clean out the shafts and the individual rocker arm holes as the guys recommended.  Be sure when re-installing the rocker shafts that the oiling holes (one aluminum rocker stand on each bank) are aligned with the proper hole in the rocker shaft, so that oil can flow to the shafts and rockers.  Hope this makes sense, have fun!  Nick Brann - K.C., MO