Maybe I'm just being paranoid about it (Tom's never paranoid about engine matters.... ;> ). At extended high speed runs (55+, hours at a time) it's possible with some engines to put enough oil in the head that it leaks at the valve cover and/or doesn't drain back quite as fast as it goes up. I don't recall a particular problem with the 196, but I did think I got some leaking around the valve cover on my 17 hour runs from Warner-Robins GA to Elgin Chicago (a couple hours south of Atlanta to an hour west of Chicago). But that was all interstate running 60-70 the whole ay, of course stopping ever 3-4 hours for a 15-45 minute break (usually 45 for lunch). Under 2500 rpm the whole way IIRC, but over 2000. May6 have just been from splash, but the way the 196 oils the rockers there is really no splash. I might be thinking mostly about the AMC V-8 heads, but the angle they are mounted on (all V engines!) has a lot to do with their poorer oil drain-back compared to the six, and the lower edge is of course easier to fill up to.
------------ Date: Sat, 8 May 2010 16:53:42 -0700 From: tom jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>
I always polish the oil returns on ANY head. Doesn't matter what it is. Once the oil splashes over the vale,rocker. Its next job is to get back to the pan ASAP Some engines. have deficiencies here and even benefit from external lines. I'd be surprised it the 196 needed much help. What rpm is that going to twist to?
I didn't polish any of the return paths, it's just so voluminous I didn't even think of it. Before rebuild I rarely ran it to 3500, factory redline is 4500. With the work I did it should be happy at 3000, so I'll likely spend more time 3000, 3500. But in stock trim, and with this RV cam, torque falls off around there so there's no point. 60 psi idle, 80 psi at 2500 - 3000, I think I'm fine. When I adjusted the valves at 1000 rpm, the oil flow there was good but not excessive, no squirting etc, just a nice small bead flow out of all the right holes etc. -- Frank SwygertPublisher, "American Motors Cars" Magazine (AMC)
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