Although I have no experience with the straight sixes, your photo makes me wonder if the oil delivery to the front rocker arms is different (stronger, more flow?) than the delivery to the rear rocker arms.

Dean

Is your condition "normal", yes and no.  It looks like oil changes weren't as often as they should have been.  Also, maybe some higher temperatures????

It looks like you need to remove the rocker assembly and give it a good cleaning making sure that all oil passages are clean (keep all the parts in order and assemble them in the same order).  Also check the oil distributor valve and make sure it is clean and operating properly.  After you get things up and running, run the engine with the valve cover removed and see if the oil is being supplied throughout the rocker assembly.  Good luck.

Posted by: @karnharverizon-net

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Is your condition "normal", yes and no.  It looks like oil changes weren't as often as they should have been.  Also, maybe some higher temperatures????

It looks like you need to remove the rocker assembly and give it a good cleaning making sure that all oil passages are clean (keep all the parts in order and assemble them in the same order).  Also check the oil distributor valve and make sure it is clean and operating properly.  After you get things up and running, run the engine with the valve cover removed and see if the oil is being supplied throughout the rocker assembly.  Good luck.

Well the car has been sitting since 1993 so were regular oil changes done?  Certainly not by me, I was only 11.  I've adopted a strategy of just going through everything, even if it looks ok since the car sat for so long.

Actually found a newspaper article of my Pap with the car from September 1993.  This was the last time the engine was fired (except for the 15 seconds I had it running 4 weeks ago).  Some misinformation in there, probably because research couldnt be done in 93 lime it can today, but I loved finding this reminder of Pap.

Took the backside off the engine as I didnt have much time today but wanted to investigate further.  Spark plugs are at least 30 years old so I'm not even testing them, just replace.

Whoever changed the plugs last time left 3 washers inside the engine.  Not very smart.  The gasket disintegrated as the cover was removed.  Every gasket on this car has disintegrated, so all are getting replaced.

Will do more work tomorrow as time permits. 

Exploring a little further today and found the oil return pipe appears to be split.  I dont know what a good pipe looks like, but I'm guessing this isn't it.

Also a ton of cleaning that needs done so I'll take my time and go through it.  Filling Station has a complete set of gaskets in the mail as everyone Ive touched crumbled.  Might as well clean while replacing gaskets.

@slw2206-2 

It's been a long time since I had the head off mine, but that tube looks pretty normal to me.

It was just a simple rolled tube meant to "guide" most of the oil directly back down into the crankcase and bypass going through the tappet/push rod area.

Posted by: @ole-olson

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@slw2206-2 

It's been a long time since I had the head off mine, but that tube looks pretty normal to me.

It was just a simple rolled tube meant to "guide" most of the oil directly back down into the crankcase and bypass going through the tappet/push rod area.

I'll take your word for it.  I've never worked on a Stovebolt before so don't know what to expect.

Or... you could go tear down your engine to see if your tube is identical to what I posted 🤣

Found all kinds of carbon and dirt so far.  Also the coolant channels have a lot of rust.  I see a lot of cleaning in my future.