[xAerox]

Hello everyone,

I just broke in a rebuilt 400sbc on my '69 camaro and in the process of adjusting the valve lashing, I noticed that one of the aluminum roller rockers is not passing oil like the other 15. The oil barely comes out as a trickle but you can clearly see a rush of oil running back down the pushrod. I twice removed the rocker and successfully shot compressed air through the oil passage to clear any clogs, but the problem has persisted. Has anyone run into something like this before? The pushrod is firmly seated to the rocker but something still seems to be restricting the proper flow of oil. Stubborn clog or defective rocker arm? There is a significant stamped gash in the inner channel of the rocker adjacent to the oil passage. It appears to be a manufacturing defect, but I suspect that it could possibly be stressing a pinchpoint in the oil passage. I just purchased the car with the engine incomplete a few months ago so I do not have the p/n info to replace the rocker arm 1-to-1 yet. Any other ideas of what it could be while I search for a correct replacement rocker?

[Muadi]

First thing I would do is switch the bad rocker with another. If the problem persists, you know for sure that it is just the rocker and not the rocker/rod as a unit...just trying to remove variables.

[67CamaroRS/SS]

Try this. Take the rocker with the imperfection and swap it with a rocker from another valve. See if the issue follows the rocker or stays at that specific valve. If it follows, then you know it's the rocker. If it stays, then you know it's related to the pushrod or lifter.

[xAerox]

Thank you for your replies. I will try swapping the rockers to see if the problem follows and report. However, I just discovered that the rocker is a Cam Dynamics rocker. I have read that Cam Dynamics was long ago acquired by Crane Cams; so if the rocker turns out to be bad, it might be difficult to find an exact replacement. But, I guess I will cross that bridge when I get there. Thanks again.

[xAerox]

Well last night I switched the rocker arm and sure enough, the problem followed the rocker arm. Conclusion: Bad Rocker

Now, since Cam Dynamics was bought by Crane Cams, how do I go about finding a replacement? After scouring every online retailer out there, I could not find an exact match. Since all of the other arms work perfectly well, I would hate to have to replace the whole set at this point. Since Crane Cams Energizer rockers are based on the same design, would it be possible to slip one in as a replacement, or should I make an attempt to fix the defect myself. Oil does find a way through, but not nearly enough. Is it possible to bore out the oil passage on the rocker?

[67CamaroRS/SS]

Give Crane a call and see if they still have some Cam Dynamics stuff left over or if they still offer replacements for defective pieces. If not, it looks like you're investing in a new set of roller rockers.

[xAerox]

Update: I brought the problem rocker into work today and after careful probing and examination of the oil passage under a magnifying lens, I was able to extract a stubborn flake of chevy orange engine paint from inside. It was just large enough to obstruct the hole and resist numerous blasts of air from my air compressor. Impressive clog to say the least but hopefully the rocker will now pass the test after work. It is a happy find, but I am not happy about finding orange paint flakes in my oil. A filter/oil change after the break-in revealed much of the same types of paint flakes so I will need to keep an eye on this situation.

[67CamaroRS/SS]

That sounds like a good find. I have a feeling that your oiling issue will be solved now. How can flakes of paint get inside into the oiling system unless something internal was painted, like the lifter valley or under the timing cover? That is probably where it came from, the timing cover area. That would worry me. If it were me, only because I am anal about certain things, I would pull the oil pan and check to make sure that there aren't pieces of paint or anything else being sucked up into the oil pump pickup. It could lead to a supply problem, if it got bad enough. You may want to pull the timing cover and check for loose paint or if you know of anywhere else "internal" they may have painted. Just a thought. Congrats on the find, nonetheless.

[victimizati0n]

Originally Posted by 67CamaroRS/SS

That sounds like a good find. I have a feeling that your oiling issue will be solved now. How can flakes of paint get inside into the oiling system unless something internal was painted, like the lifter valley or under the timing cover? That is probably where it came from, the timing cover area. That would worry me. If it were me, only because I am anal about certain things, I would pull the oil pan and check to make sure that there aren't pieces of paint or anything else being sucked up into the oil pump pickup. It could lead to a supply problem, if it got bad enough. You may want to pull the timing cover and check for loose paint or if you know of anywhere else "internal" they may have painted. Just a thought. Congrats on the find, nonetheless.

im not sure, but i can tell you when i drained my oil, i also had these paint flakes in it, there was no paint on the inside of the engine, or any of the parts you mentioned except for a bit of overspray on the valve springs, but just by looking at it, you can tell the paint did not come from there

[67CamaroRS/SS]

Did you assemble the engine or did you buy it as a "crate motor"? The only way paint would get "inside" the engine would be if it were painted somewhere like the timing chain area, the lifter valley, inside the heads where the springs are or if the engine had oil in it when you got it, whoever filled it had paint in their supply, but that's sounds like a long shot. Was any parts you used painted?

[xAerox]

Well after work yesterday, I re-installed the clog free rocker arm and was totally happy to see it prime and deliver oil normally. What a relief.
On the paint flake topic, I agree that under the timing cover is highly suspect. Another suspect area is the oil dipstick. The previous owner opted for a low profile dipstick that seats directly into the block. When inserting the dipstick, it would be easy enough to chip off a paint flake if you were not careful. I think that I will dig into this deeper if I do not have significantly less paint in my next oil change. Which will be much sooner because of this.
Thanks again for all of your help.

[67CamaroRS/SS]

It's great to hear that you got the rocker oiling issue resolved. I had great faith in finding resolution after removal of the paint chip in the rocker. In reference to the dipstick, is there enough paint in that location to equal up to the amount of paint you have found? I am just trying to eliminate possible areas to give you a more pinpoint location. From the way you described it, there was much more paint then what could have been scraped from the dipstick hole. I usually don't paint an area if it's not going to be visible for just this reason. If you think about it, why paint the timing area or even the lifter valley? It's not like you have those areas on display like the cylinder heads and oil pan or block and valve covers.

[novaderrik]

Originally Posted by 67CamaroRS/SS

It's great to hear that you got the rocker oiling issue resolved. I had great faith in finding resolution after removal of the paint chip in the rocker. In reference to the dipstick, is there enough paint in that location to equal up to the amount of paint you have found? I am just trying to eliminate possible areas to give you a more pinpoint location. From the way you described it, there was much more paint then what could have been scraped from the dipstick hole. I usually don't paint an area if it's not going to be visible for just this reason. If you think about it, why paint the timing area or even the lifter valley? It's not like you have those areas on display like the cylinder heads and oil pan or block and valve covers.

some builders use special paint to paint the lifter valley and timing chain area to help with oil drainage. the paint you are supposed to use is called "glyptol" or something like that. but i'd bet that the block was just painted without the intake or timing cover on it and the paint that is in the motor is just overspray that is flaking off and is really nothing to worry about if the motor is running fine.

[77wolf10.85]

Yeah I agree with Derrick. And glyptol is the name that I recall from how to hotrod your sbc,,,, I couldn't find it back in the 80's when me and my little boy did this one but an industrial paint vendor found a similar coating for us,,,,here's what it looks like 20 years later
http://www.camaros.net/forums/attach...0&d=1217468595

The theory is twofold, helps drainback and keeps oil from bleeding through the porous cast iron. I no longer put any stock in it, won't spend the time. But it's sure sweet when I open that engine and see what me and my boy did way back when.

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The alternative to what Derrick is saying ain't so sunshiney a picture,,,,,that paint flake made it through an open bypass in your filter or filter base.

[speedfreek]

Originally Posted by 77wolf10.85

The alternative to what Derrick is saying ain't so sunshiney a picture,,,,,that paint flake made it through an open bypass in your filter or filter base.

You need to check your filter bypass as mentioned above. It needs to be blocked. Or just by one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/JEGS-...mZ200254106992