Speaking of restrictors...

[scott foxwell]

I decided to run restrictors in the heads on my 390 because I'm also oiling through the pushrods. I'm not afraid of a little extra oil upstairs as I'm running external drainbacks but now I'm questioning the size of my restrictors. I have .040" in the heads and also .040" restrictor pushrods. I'm thinking of maybe opening the restrictors up in the heads to .060" or maybe even .080" to make sure the rockers are getting enough oil. New Sharp bushed rockers and shafts and I'm running the Melling M57B pump which I tested @ 80psi with a drill at about 400rpm, 5w30 oil. Since I have no experience with this set up I'm hoping I can get a little guidance here. TIA

[Katz427]

I have run a .062 restriction in the heads, and still a lot of oil up top running 10-40w.

[jayb]

I always run 0.070" restrictors with no pushrod oiling.  I think with the setup you've got, you will have no problems.

[turbohunter]

I’m plugging the riser at the deck with push rod oiling.

[XR7]

I plugged the deck with pushrod oiling with T&D "race" rockers, paired shafts. But I know of at least one guy that oiled to the top and through the pushrods both, with Erson's (has roller bearings) to keep from blueing pushrods on the end cylinder both banks, farthest away from the oil feed hole. I think if you oil both ways it would need more restriction so your plan may be pretty close Scott, I am sure you can dial it in at the head. I have never messed with restricted pushrods so no experience there on sizing.

[Barry_R]

I've oiled both sides with .060 restrictions pretty often - you'll be fine.

[scott foxwell]

I've oiled both sides with .060 restrictions pretty often - you'll be fine.

Thanks Barry. So you think .040" is enough for the shafts and rockers? That's my main concern.
Thanks everyone for the input.

[turbohunter]

This is more for myself Scott, I’m curious, if you’re push rod oiling wouldn’t you have rockers channeled for that? And if you do why do you want the regular oiling also?

[Yellow Truck]

I put .060 restrictors under the T&D rockers on BBM heads, with pushrod oiling. My heads are almost drowning in oil. Before I buttoned it up I was turning the oil pump with a speed handle turning the oil pump by hand was able to pour oil down the side of the block. With a cordless drill I could empty 4 quarts of oil out of the pan and into the heads, leave it sucking air.

Resist the temptation to tell me that 4 quarts isn't enough, this was running some oil through it after the first assembly before I dumped the oil and put on a clean filter and 6 quarts of oil.

Point is .060 restrictors and pushrod oiling got a LOT of oil to the rockers.

[scott foxwell]

This is more for myself Scott, I’m curious, if you’re push rod oiling wouldn’t you have rockers channeled for that? And if you do why do you want the regular oiling also?

The Sharp rockers really don't have any oiling provision through the pushrods. They have a ball adjuster with no hole drilled, no channel in the rocker arm. I was just hoping to give the pushrod tips a little extra oil since the lifters had that provision. The shafts will need full oiling like normal and I just want to make sure in my mind that .040: restrictors in the heads will supply enough oil. I'm not afraid of a little extra oil since I have the external drainbacks.

[turbohunter]

Ok thanks that explains it for me.
Hey just so you know I have a set of Harland Sharps that are set up for push rod oiling (thus my confusion). They brought them out at PRI year before last but they’re not on the website and I hear zero about them. But they do exist.

[XR7]

If your rockers fit the shafts tight, then you won't have a lot of extra oil bleed off, even with .080-.100 restrictors. No reason to run .040 to the shaft, with bushed rockers in my opinion, they will "meter" the oil themselves unless they are really "loose". I ran .090 or so on DOVE rockers for years and years, no issues with over oiling, they fit tight on the shafts, no wear either. It is the needle bearing rockers with pushrod oiling only, that need the most restriction. Your pushrods are just going to oil the cups (only) and bleed a little with the lash when on the back of the lobe. A little different, but I am sure it will work, just added insurance. 

[scott foxwell]

Ok thanks that explains it for me.
Hey just so you know I have a set of Harland Sharps that are set up for push rod oiling (thus my confusion). They brought them out at PRI year before last but they’re not on the website and I hear zero about them. But they do exist.

I didn't know that. I'll have to ask Randy Jr. about that. Thanks!

[scott foxwell]

If your rockers fit the shafts tight, then you won't have a lot of extra oil bleed off, even with .080-.100 restrictors. No reason to run .040 to the shaft, with bushed rockers in my opinion, they will "meter" the oil themselves unless they are really "loose". I ran .090 or so on DOVE rockers for years and years, no issues with over oiling, they fit tight on the shafts, no wear either. It is the needle bearing rockers with pushrod oiling only, that need the most restriction. Your pushrods are just going to oil the cups (only) and bleed a little with the lash when on the back of the lobe. A little different, but I am sure it will work, just added insurance.

That's sort of what I was thinking but .002" clearance on 8 rockers is still quite a bit of area. I think I'm going to go .060" on the restrictors in the heads. That can't hurt. That's a lot of oil @ 75-80#.
10-4 on the p/r oiling. Thanks for the input.

[jayb]

I didn't realize that the rockers you are using won't supply oil to the shaft.  Generally when people pushrod oil an FE, it is with rockers that feed the oil across, and you can block off the oil hole at the block deck.  Since your rockers don't feed oil from the pushrods to the shaft, I think I'd go up to .070" restrictors in the heads.

[scott foxwell]

I didn't realize that the rockers you are using won't supply oil to the shaft.  Generally when people pushrod oil an FE, it is with rockers that feed the oil across, and you can block off the oil hole at the block deck.  Since your rockers don't feed oil from the pushrods to the shaft, I think I'd go up to .070" restrictors in the heads.

Thanks Jay.