"Y"Rocker arm feed,about the center cam bearing?

[Dana Barlow]

THe Y was free,an I thought about using it,,but wanted to be sure it was not ready to go boom !! So started checking it out;;;;;Started on it;Y 292-Block is now upside down with heads off and cam removed,tryed blowing down rocker oil feed hole at head side= nothing,,,,ran wire down hole going to cam bearing tell it stops at cam bearing [ about 6 an 1/4 in. deep ]> cam is not in,So can look through cam hole to see if I can see wire coming out of a hole in cam bearing to feed rockers=no wire or hole can be seen looking thought bearings. In fact,there are no holes I can see in the center cam bearing{ but not good angle to see,and crank n rods are still in place kind blocking some view.
This used v8 Engine history that I know of, is,it did have Mickey Mouse out side oiler kit in place sticking out of valve covers.
Trying to blow WD40 through hole in block,nothing comes out cam bearing side of hole< that I think it should with cam out of block. Unknown number of other owners have worked on this one !

Should I asume the center cam bearing was?> Put in wrong,or spun,or wrong bearing used in center.??? Or is there some trick about this I just don't know.
Worked on 7 other Y-blocks an never saw this before!

[KULTULZ]

What model year, car or truck, is the engine and are you sure it is a 292?

[dmsfrr]

*Edit* Yes I missed the part in your post where you said the heads were already off, couldn't see it in the extra punctuation.

The oil supply passages from the center cam bearing up to the rocker stands in a Y-block are not a straight line.
Both sides of the engine have a pair 90 degree turns at the head gasket. In poorly maintained engines the groove in the head immediately above the head gasket can be clogged with sludge. Photo 2
In some cases the groove may be too shallow due to poor casting or head resurfacing.
It may also be possible that the head gasket has swollen into the groove, further reducing its size.

The oil hole thru the head is 1/4 inch. The oil hole in the block down to the cam bearing is 5/16 inch.

[darrell]

sounds like someone put the bearing in wrong and used the kit to oil.you need to replace the bearings.its awkard with the crank in but you only need to replace the centre one.

[5851a]

Not been around Y blocks for a long time but think oiling comes 2nd and 4th cam bearing. There was a change from earlier to later. Oil holes in bearing must align with oil feed hole from pump and with rocker supply hole. Oil ran around a groove in the camshaft on the bearing journal. That might have been early version, later version might have been groove on the bearing. The transfer slot on the head can be too small if the heads are milled too much.

[Dana Barlow]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks for input!
I may just run a 8in. long3/16in drill bit down the block hole to the cam bearing,an drill it open.* And put it back together,no $$$$ for doing what I'd like too,like bore out n new cam ect.
I have 2 more old "Y"s that are both locked up for doing a rebuild with, if some $$$$ falls out of the sky later. Farmer fix will get me driving again for a little time,an feed oil to rockers. I was told by guy that gave me this one,he thought it was a 1960 292,but he was given it also as just a engine. I did take bore size,n yes it is 292.

[dmsfrr]

Here's a list of the engine block casting / ID numbers...

http://ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm

[darrell]

back in 77 when i worked on a y block i drilled out the bearing.it did the trick.

[miker98038]

Here’s the link to Ted Eaton’s take on the upper oiling problems. Worth a read.

https://www.eatonbalancing.com/2000/...rticle-series/

[paul2748]

Bearing was either put in wrong or has spun, closing off the hole as was mentioned above. Just the center bearing supplies oil to the rockers. Your fix may work, but if you can , after drilling, chamfer the new hole

[Dana Barlow]

Originally Posted by paul2748

Bearing was either put in wrong or has spun, closing off the hole as was mentioned above. Just the center bearing supplies oil to the rockers. Your fix may work, but if you can , after drilling, chamfer the new hole

Good idea,but now that I'm looking at the drawing of Y-Ford oil flow,if cam bearing has spun,then maybe oil also never gets in-to cam bearing*ether,, from feed between crank an cam off block side feed.=I would also have to take crank out,an drill the spun or wrong bearing also up through from main bearing! ;so 3 drill holes >>>So,I think I'm just wasting time,even trying to get this thing working temp for a short time. I'm thinking,bite the bullet an start saving up ,or sell something,to buy a full rebuild kit!!!and do it right!!
I really hate not being able to drive it though,for likely many many months!!

[darrell]

ive never seen a spun bearing but i suppose its possable.when i did it i was just trying to get more oil.

[TedEaton]

The link posted above to my site does not go to the appropriate thread. Here's the correct link going to the article that was posted in The Y-Block Magazine regarding Y-Block top end oiling issues.
https://www.eatonbalancing.com/2021/...d-oiling-woes/

[Dana Barlow]

Originally Posted by TedEaton

The link posted above to my site does not go to the appropriate thread. Here's the correct link going to the article that was posted in The Y-Block Magazine regarding Y-Block top end oiling issues.
https://www.eatonbalancing.com/2021/...d-oiling-woes/

Thanks Ted
Best info I've seen anywere !

[miker98038]

I don’t know how I managed the wrong link, I read the oiling one before I copied it. I guess clumsy fingers can still beat technology.

[5851a]

That is a lot of Y block info and interesting. I was wrong on the supply bearing journal and didn't know about the soft bearings.

[55blacktie]

Before attempting to improve oil flow to rocker assemblies, you need to determine exactly what's going on with your Y-block engine. There are numerous ways to improve oiling, including pressurizing rocker assemblies, cutting a notch/trough to connect the oil holes underneath the center cam bearing, making sure that the oil groove in the center cam journal is at least 0.030 deep, etc. Ted Eaton (eatonbalancing.com) has also commented, regarding soft cam bearings. He recommended Enginetech Cam Bearings (Made in Columbia), Part # CC508. The best source for same is RockAuto. I made the mistake of buying mine elsewhere (starts with an e) and ended up paying more. If you email Ted, he usually replies within 24 hours.

[darrell]

i notice when these bearings show up at rockauto they dont last long.i wonder whos buying them up.

[Gene F]

A helper with a rag to catch the shavings as best one can is always a good idea.

[55blacktie]

Dana, keep in mind that the Y-block won't be "free" by the time you're finished with it. Even if you walk away, it will cost you time, and possibly money, depending on how far you go with it. It's the nature of the beast.