2.9 Oiling Solutions?

[nwstal]

One thing Ive found and it isnt mentioned anywhere is The rocker shafts all get all their of their oil from the center Shaft pedestal:

Which then has to pass through here?:

Now to me this maybe the main reason for starving the top end of oil and I for one will be modifying the oil passages slightly The shafts may get plugged regardless but it may help if they got better supply. Im also going to camfer the oil holes in the shaft and am considering finding new retaing bolts with a smaller diameter shaft or maybe grooving them where they go through the Shaft.

Ive read that using the free floating rocker setup helps the oiling as well and if you throw in the HV oil pump it should do the trick.

Thoughts? Ideas?

 

[Big Jim M]

Why? when it is working for many millions of others do a few folks want to change something that has had hundreds of engineering hours spent on it?
If you mess with the top end oiling you MAY defeat the purpose of something and cleverly **** up the entire engine.
If you allow more oil to be used by the top end there will be less for the bottom end..
Them rockers are designed to have oil in them at all times and not oil pouring thru them.
I highly suggest leaving them alone.
Big JIm

 

[cammeddrz]

the only "2.9 oiling solution" that i know of is to run the 4.0l oiling system

 

[jhammel85]

What brought this on? Is the truck noisy?

I would clean it up but leave it alone.

 

[rusty70f100]

Leave it alone. The 2.9L never did have a problem getting oil up to the rockers. What it did have a problem with years ago when it was made was inferior quality oil that would sludge everything up.

Then when you lose pressure at the lifters they begin to develop the famous 2.9L lifter tick.

Clean it up and run synthetic.

If you're really concerned, run a high volume oil pump.

As a point of reference, the old Ford FE big block engine runs a very similar oiling system. Most guys that run those at higher RPM's for sustained periods go the other way, restricting oil up to the rockers to redirect more of it to the cam and the crank. It's something to think about. But for these motors, I'd just leave well enough alone.

 

[nwstal]

I get the whole oil restricter concept and I know that "tons of engineering" went into building engines. I also know that manufacturers like bolt on parts and "good enough" works just the same.
That being said All three pedestals are identical as are the bolts this would indicate a "good enough" proposition in the factory. With small clearances built in the stock rockers have the oil constricting down as the sludge build up shows, any dirt would deposit where the incoming flow is slow because when fluids slow down deposits have enough time to settle out.

I wouldn't even suggest changing things if I hadn't put thought into it I'm not your average idiot that hasnt ever built an engine, I know for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Lowering oil pressure here may create a low flow situation elsewhere that is more important to engine function. I beleive this is a Priority Main Block but Im not intirely sure,
I do know that gravity helps and the HV oil pump would more than make up the difference grinding the threads off the bolt so they dont stick into the pedestals would have on oil flow.

 

[Steiger Man]

I say go for it! What's it gonna hurt? If you blow or burn it up, just repair it. It only takes money. The good thing about money is, it's easy to make more when you blow it all.
Just do it, then post up a report. I'm interested in how it goes.

 

[cammeddrz]

i still suggest that he run the 4.0l oiling system .....you just need to run the whole 4.0l engine along with it

 

[90B24wd]

I for one welcome you to your ideas. Alot of old timers here still believe that the 2.9 ticking problems are caused by worn cam bearings. Which I know that is false. The problem is improper oil flow. When a 2.9 is ticking, it is symptoms of clogged arteries.

 

[nwstal]

Thank You its obvious if you tear apart your rockers oil aint gettin where it needs to be going. Mine all have grooves where the oil should have been coming from. It's got a nice size passage straight to the block. They grooved the inside of the head bolt hole where the passage is and its clearanced for the oil, but when they stuck the rockers on they used all the same bolts almost completely blocking the oil passage? I ground off all but what threads are needed and when I reassemble I'll use the outer two bolts to locate the shaft. I wont be going with the free floating rockers just incase its too free flowing. I'm thinking camfering the rocker holes should even the oil distribution accross the rockers, polishing the rocker arm bores, and using the aluminum spacers instead of the springs which are way too high tension.