1939 248 engine rocker arm assembly question

[39BuickEight]

Hello everyone, we took the valve cover off my extra engine today just to see what it looked like, and we found it has this long bar-type part (oil deflector?) bolted along the top. My original engine that I had rebuilt did not have this. Should it? It would be easy to stick on my engine, but I really don't want to mess with this one since it ran so good. Eventually I will offer this one for sale. Thanks!

 

Edited December 17, 2019 by 39BuickEight (see edit history)

[DonMicheletti]

I have never seen one of those before. Obviously a commercial part and not just something someone just ginned up.

Perhaps aftermarket to keep excessive oil from getting to the valve guides and increasing oil burning.

It will be interesting to hear what other have to say.

[Glassesguy]

Guys:  That is a factory baffle added starting with 1942 production according to the 1942 Parts and Service Bulletins.  The reason is exactly as Don stated regarding oil burning.  Bulletin states it is to  "prevent excess oil spraying from the rocker arm ball studs onto the valve stems from where it can be pulled down the stem and be lost.  This baffle will prevent the consumption of oil at this point under high speed driving conditions in excess of that required to lubricate, effectively, the valve and guide assemblies".

That's all that was stated. No recall campaign or anything said about retrofitting existing engines.  I suppose you could bolt it on to your rebuilt engine rocker assembly to see if it fits.  Thanks for the pictures.

[37buick]

Wow !   By the way  Can anybody recommend  a  straight   8  specialist   just in case I ever have to rebuild that engine ?   east coast ....

[mcdarrunt]

My 37 Special had a thick piece of felt the same dimensions as the inside of the valve cover just laid down on top of the rocker assembly. Of course it was saturated with oil so I removed it. When I started the engine with it gone it was MUCH noisier. Maybe an old time used car lot trick?

[39BuickEight]

Guys:  That is a factory baffle added starting with 1942 production according to the 1942 Parts and Service Bulletins.  The reason is exactly as Don stated regarding oil burning.  Bulletin states it is to  "prevent excess oil spraying from the rocker arm ball studs onto the valve stems from where it can be pulled down the stem and be lost.  This baffle will prevent the consumption of oil at this point under high speed driving conditions in excess of that required to lubricate, effectively, the valve and guide assemblies".

That's all that was stated. No recall campaign or anything said about retrofitting existing engines.  I suppose you could bolt it on to your rebuilt engine rocker assembly to see if it fits.  Thanks for the pictures.

Thanks for the info!

[39BuickEight]

The engine number that the part is installed on is 43749517, which I am 99% certain is a 1939 engine.

Would a possible scenario be that the owner had oil burning issues say, in 1942, with this car, and took it in for service, when this was installed? That seems more likely than it being done recently-as in the past 20-30 years. I can't imagine a current or recently current mechanic would have been looking to install this on a car that isn't driven much at all.

Edited February 26, 2016 by 39BuickEight (see edit history)

[jvelde]

That is definitely a '39 engine number - about 1,400 after mine which was produced late May of '39. 

[1939_Buick]

First time I have seen this or even read about it.

Does the head have a stud at number 8 exhaust manifold? The very last stud by the firewall

Only '39's do not  have that last stud at number 8

[39BuickEight]

Here is the back end of the cylinder head:

Edited February 27, 2016 by 39BuickEight (see edit history)

[danhar1960]

If I had it Billy, I'd put it on my engine.

It is all positive and no negative. Once the cover is on, no one will ever know it's there anyway.

Just my 2 bobs worth.

 

Danny