I just read this on this website https://oldsjunction.classicoldsmobi...sfaq/ofign.htm.

" The oil rail (in an Olds) for the drivers side valve lifters ends just before the distributor. It should have a pipe plug with a .040" hole to spray oil on the distributor gear. If someone put in a plug with no hole, the gears and lower distributor bearing will have a short life. "


Can anyone confirm this ? I just built a 69 350 and used new oil plugs and they DID NOT have any lube hole.

 

Yes this orifice is there for good reason. Non-Olds engine builder are clueless and continue to be...GAH

 

Where would you buy one of these plugs ? Do you remember the thread size ?

 

I wouldn't run the car at all....plugs are out there, check some of the olds resto places.

 

Take the plug out and get a drill bit that is .040" thick and drill in the center very slowly. The bit is very thin and brittle. This happened to me when I got my engine back from a machine shop. Its a good thing I checked it before I put the engine back in the car. Its a lot easier with the engine out.

 

You can drill the hole yourself easily enough. I drill a 1/16" hole most of the way through the plug then finish with a 0.040" bit. Very easy on a brass plug.
Or post a parts wanted. Several guys here have piles of the various plugs.

 

I have driven the car about 100 miles. I have had the distributor out about 10 times for various reasons and the gear is oily every time.

I may have used the original plugs and got lucky and put it in the right location, I hope.

Does the oily gear indicate that I may the orifice plug in there after all. What visual symptoms would there be if the orifice is not there ?

 

I wonder if I could use one of those borescope cameras would show the orifice by taking the distributor out ?

 

I wonder if I removed the distributor and spun the oil pump, if I could see an oil stream (like when priming the engine) ?

 

Get a "dentist" mirror, pull the dist and take a look.

 

Yes.

 

I made a small mirror and could not see hole in rear plug. Also no stream of oil when priming engine.

I made a few phone calls.
Tony Ross Racing says he has run without .040 orifice and says there is plenty of splash from rear crank counterweight, also timing chain is not a problem although the front plugs are unique and I reused them.
According to Mondello the factory did not have these oiling holes.

When I disasembled the engine it had only minor cam gear and distributor gear wear in over 100,00 miles of use.

Every time I pull the distributor after running, the distributor is dripping oil.

I will probably never put more than 5000 miles on the car in the next 10-15 years.
I'm 70 so the engine will probably outlast me.