Early 273 Oiling Questions

[Ciguatera]

I'm planning a rebuild on the original 273 my 65 Barracuda Formula S and need some help from some of the LA experts here. I was reading How to Rebuild the Small Block Mopar by William Burt. On page 65 he says, "LA engines from 1967 to 1992 do not have oil passages in the tappets, and oil is supplied to the heads through passages through the block and heads instead of through the lifters."

So, because my engine is pre-1967, does that mean it does have lifter/pushrod oiling to the heads? Or is this a typo and he meant to include all pre-1992 LAs? Do I need special 1965-66 lifters then (assuming they exist)?

 

[Wyrmrider]

you have oiling from the cam through the cam bearing up through both sides of the valley to the block to the LA heads ( not magnums)
The early LA had solid lifters with no oil through the pushrods and a small cup for a small ball pushrod- very obsolete
later lifters had a bigger cup for a larger pushrod ball- use the later parts no mix and match- toss the old stuff it did not wear well which is why Chrysler changed
Now almost all lifters for SBM FT or HYD use the AMC/Magnum style lifters with the capabality of oil through the puhrods- use these
no reason to search out the older non oil through the pushrod FT or HFT lifters
I like to have the extra oil to the rocker adjusters anyway especailly with more than stock spring pressure
you have the adjustable rockers use them
if needed send them or exchange with Rocker Arm Specialists for brass bushings and new adjusters- get the cup type instead of the ball type then ball and ball pushrods with the oil holes
check your shafts for wear and gauling and reface the valve stem pad on the rocker

BVVC if thinking of roller tip rockers- to work right they need a kit from B3Racingindustries
go there and read the 4 tech articles

 

[Ciguatera]

Thanks, Wyrmrider! Great info, and a big relief that I don't need to find yet more parts that were only used on early 273s!

This seems to be the successor company to Rocker Arm Specialists you mentioned in case anyone is interested: Rocker Arms Unlimited

 

[Wyrmrider]

When they were in So Cal they were Rocker Arm Rebuilders
Good guys
I can't keep all the name changes since then straight
incidently- no real reason to change to a hyd cam
you can do more for less with a solid

 

[toolmanmike]

Just buy a solid cam and lifters to match and roll with it. (Isky E4 is a good one.) Double check your pushrod length and rocker arm contact area on the valve stem. You'll be fine.

 

[yellow rose]

Unless I'm pushrod oiling I don't buy that lifter.

If you are going to run a solid lifter cam you can (should) block off the oil to the passenger side lifters with a tube. This is explained in virtually every book I've ever seen.

There is no real reason not to do it. Even with low lift cams or whatever. You don't need the oil leaks at the lifters, especially on older, high mileage blocks.

 

[Wyrmrider]

good point yr
Isky E4 expensive for what little you get better off with a regrind
50s cam n a 60s car...