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Cant Drive It - Don't Want It
Posted On 06/29/08 @ 09:49 AM by Jeff
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 Hello to all, as I mentioned in past My Garage blog’s, I want to share my cars and my car projects with you all, and this matter seems like a good place to start. Here’s my dilemma. When I first got my 1956 Thunderbird, the 312 Y Block engine was toast. The oil pump had gotten weak and oil sludge had formed everywhere (common with this engine) which reduced the flow of oil to the heads, the timing chain and gears. Over the winter I pulled the heads and the whole front off the engine to include the water pump, the timing chain and gears. I put in a new oil pump, flushed out the old oil and changed the oil filter, installed a new fuel pump, timing chain and gears, goose neck, thermostat, water pump. I got Dana Hard of Custom Automotive Machine in Weymouth, Mass to do a top notch rebuild of the heads and rocker arm assemblies and I installed new push rods as well. I converted her to a Holly Carb, did a complete tune up and refurbished the engine compartment while everything was out. The only thing I didn’t do was the bottom end because it seemed to be in good shape. I’m thinking now that I should have done it as well, if for no other reason than to thoroughly clean out any oil sludge that must still be in the crank case, and here’s why I say so. After I did all the prerequisite priming of the new oil pump to make sure oil was getting up to the heads, I put the last touches on the job and fired her up. After about a week of driving the car for an hour per day, I pulled the valve covers off to re-torque the heads only to find that the passenger side head had zero oil flowing to it. After checking the drivers side and finding plenty of oil, it became apparent that something, most likely left over sludge from the crank case had clogged the narrow oil passage through the block and into the head. I’ve read about a few things that might work to solve this problem, but some of them entail pulling the head. I don’t want to go through that again. If there’s anyone out there with knowledge of Y Block engines that might have an easier fix, please advise. I want to take this car to the next level of restoration with new paint, carpet and wiring, but she has to run right first, because if I can’t drive it, I don’t want it! Thanks in advance. Last Guy Out, Get The Lights. - Jeff
Tags: 1956 Thunderbird
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