Hi there. I'm planning on rebuilding my stock 287 in my 1955 Pontiac SW. Somehow the engine has been converted to 3/8 rocker studs and the rockers have worn out pretty badly. So I can buy new stock rockers but what about camshaft and cam bearings for this earlier stud oiling system? Do they still exist? What about doing the pushrod oiling conversion? I don't know what's involved in the conversion. Anyone can help me out on this issue? Thanks!!!
all the parts exist .the cam fits 287-455(all pontiacs)so no prob locating one and cam bearings are the same.there is no real reason that i can think of to do a conversion as it works fine.i have a stock 287 in my 29 ford and just built a 57 347 block bored to354 with 58 heads,10-1 pistons,new valves,cam,etc to replace it.should be a little monster but it cost a bit .ive got about 3 grand in it,but its what i wanted and should kickass
IIRC pushrod oiling is 59-60 and the pushrods aren't cheap. You might be better off changing the rockers to match the studs, if you can do it without messing up the valve geometry -
Thanks. Read somewhere that later camshafts and bearings won't work because of this stud oiling. I took this info from an old hamb post This confuses me on what to choose.