KB Hemi Oiling problems

OK here's the deal, I have an early style KB wet hemi block (cast) and a set of early BAE fuel heads. I just got this combo together even though I boought it "turn key" I ran it for the first time a few weeks ago and I have had trouble with it burning intake pushrods on the #6 and #8 cyl. only. I put NEW Manton pushrods and adjustors and also used the Techline lube that Manton recommends. I warmed it up at the track and the new pushrods were discolored for about an inch down from the top and had a blue ring around them from the heat just from warming it up! I was very diligent lubing the rockers after every run and before every time we fired it and still ended up killing 2 new pushrods.

Back at the ranch, I mean the garage I pulled both heads off. I have Stage V rockers that oil up through the head and head bolt hole into the stand and then the shaft. After pulling the heads I found a passage that is coiming from the cam bearing (one BEFORE the rear of the block) The passage on the passenger side appears to be plugged about .500 down from the deck, with what I cant tell, and the driver side of the motor actually has part of a bolt or something that the previous owner has ground down and driven into the deck.

Can I drill these passages out and tap them and install a "restrictor" that would allow oil through? Normally on the BBC's I've dealt with I've used an 1/8" set screw with about an .080 hole to restrict oil to the valvetrain. From what I can see there is no other way oil can get to the rockers. Why would someone modify the block for this? The motor came out of an Alky drag boat so I would think that they would run a little longer than my pro mod car.

Sorry for the book guys but I appreciate any help ya'll can give.

Thanks

 

I dont know about the oiling prob but Im a boat racer and when you go trough the lights you scrub off speed and then drive usually another 1320 at least to the out ramp

 

Had The Same Problem. Those Oil Supply Ports You Spoke Of, Should Have Threaded Restrictors In Them. I Used Set Screws, Drilled Them Out {a Couple Of Times} That Cured My Problem. Also Make Sure That Your Rocker Stands Are In The Correct Order Only One {on Each Side} Has The Oil Passage To The Shaft.

 

I used to restrict oiling to the heads when I ran my B-1 motor on gas. My KB motors that I run in TAFC I have always ENHANCED oiling to the heads. Some guys even run additional oil lines to the rockers. I redrill the passages to the 4th cam bearing and cut the groove in the cam deeper. I also undercut the bolts in the rocker stands to allow better oil flow down the rocker shafts. Plus I had the PSI oiling mods done to the intake rockers. Generally if you are burning pushrods there isn't enough oil to them. Dave Germain

 

I also have an early KB block Stage III and I also hads the same problem, a trap for young players, I have also just had a major o/haul of engine combo and because of this o/haul I will be checking all of my push rod lubes again.

So here is my checklist:-
1/ Restrictor in block retaining the cam bearing is clear and has a .100" orrifice.
2/ Make sure the cam journal that allows lube to flow to the heads is adequately grooved, I had mine increased to around 1/4" wide.
3/ Remove the oil restrictions in the block that feed to the cylinder heads.
4/ Machine a recess down the length of the head stud hole, that feeds the rocker stand with lube that is fed from the block surface. This just allows more volume and an uninterupted flow to the rocker stand. I even machined a recess in the rocker stand stud hole as well.
5/ Now make sure that when your vales are at rest that your rocker exposes the lube hole so as to squirt the tip of your push rod.
6/ While you are at it you may as well make sure that when the valve is wide open that it exposes the lube hole to lube the lash cap as well.

Now #5 & 6 may be all you really need to do but I have had no problems with vlave or push rods since and I will also mention that I have had no problem with oil starvation to the #4 main cap either.

 

I have a tfx 92,my restrictors have an .045 orfice.We have burned a few pushrods. Should I go bigger?

 

After taking my heads off I found 2 PLUGS in the oil galleys going to the rockers, not restrictors but freakin PLUGS! Someone had put what appeared to be head dowels in the holes. I had to disassemble the entire motor minus crank, knock out the cam bearing and drive the plugs through the block until they fell out. Then, As per KB recommendation I tapped each deck and installed a 5/16 set screw with a .080 hole in the block. I got it all back together last night but had the timing a little off when I started it so I couldnt let it run too long, it did shoot a pretty blue flame out of the pipes though!

 

just a suggestion here, everyone has their own way of doing things. when were were having oiling issues we always took out the mag after we thought we had the problem solved. we used a speed handle and turned the pump to get oil to the rockers. you can easily see if you have issues this way. it takes a little while, but it's cheaper than burning pushrods.

 

KB oil fix at the block

The stage 3 block is a water block. Oil will squirt by the head stud coming from the block, and fill the block as it is also oiling the rockers. You may be damaging the valve train as the block is filling with oil. We put a thin Oring and silicon around the head stud at the block deck & head gasket. We do this on both sides of the block on the head stud that goes through the rocker stand at the oiling location (#4 cam bearing location, #4 rocker stand location)
bob@racecarbook.com
www.racecarbook.com

 

The problem was that the oil galley that comes off of the #4 cam bearing had PLUGS in it. Some one had installed what looked to be head dowels in those 2 holes. I've removed them, drilled and tapped the block and installed restrictors per instructions from KB.