Squeaking adjustable rockers???

[19blockhead72]

So I just set up a nice set of 273 adjustable rockers on my 408 with j heads and 480 lift cam. I got new banana grove shafts and new push rods. Engine has a few hundred miles on it just wanted it sure up the valve train. So I fired it up and sounded great, then it started making noise. Kind of a chatter and squeaking noise. I pulled the driver side valve cover and nothing is binding up. Pulled the shaft and cranked it over and shot oil all over the fender. Everything seems right. Not enough oil? Any ideas?

 

[3406pk]

Is the hole in shaft oversize for the bolt to the oil feed pedestal. If there is not space around bolt, oil can't get into shaft.

 

[nm9stheham]

Mmmmm.... did the new shafts have the extra holes in them, 1 above each of the banana groove holes, and off at an angle from vertical, that pushes oil through the hole in the back of each rocker that leads to the adjuster and then dribbles down onto the adjuster balls and the top cup of the pushrod?

Sounds like maybe not and the pushrod cups are dry...

Edit to add: My 273 rocker shafts have both oil holes for each rocker: the banana groove hole and the 2nd hole above that. I thought 2 holes per rocker was standard for the 273 adjustable shafts....??

 

[Rocket]

Inspect the rockers and shafts and push rod cups. Were they getting oil? Are they scored? Were they full of oil when removed?

Make sure the shafts have the oil holes and banana grooves facing down. Oil the rockers and pushrods cups well before next start. If you have the ability to prime the oiling system do it with the valve covers off and have someone run the priming tool with a drill and slowly turn the engine over by hand. It will be easier if you remove the spark plugs. You should see oil come out of the rocker oiling holes. If you do not have the ability to prime, run the engine and watch the rockers. You should see oil. If not shut it down and look for the restriction between the head and shaft. The right bolt to hold the rocker shaft down where the oil comes out of the head may be slightly thinner than the others where it threads into the head and passes the bottom of the shaft. Use a caliper and put the thinnest bolts in the head pedistal with the oiling passage which will be the second or fourth depending on the side of the engine.

 

[19blockhead72]

Ok so I'll probably catch some flack for what I did but it worked. I took it for drive and beat the crap out of it. Sounds better than ever. I guess it finally pushed the oil into all the needed spaces. I had it apart a dozen times and everything checked out so........drive it!