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More or less answered my own question about the numbers I found on the lower right had side of the engine. It seems that the engine in my 200 Deluxe is indeed a service engine which accounts for there beign no serial number. According to the reference chart on site; what's lurking under my hood is a five main bearing 327 which was cast on 10-13-54.

One lives and learns.

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Actually 3 bleed holes do have enough oil shooting out on the upstroke that the spurt clears the engine. Would that indicate a problem with the check ball?

PS. Yes Howard it does have a filter but if it is a '54 Service Replacement, it should be plumbed right. Except I may have changed it. Something more to check tomorrow.

I've always had a terible time finding which lifters are noisy, but this works: Lay the stem of the stethescope on each lifter as the engine is idling slowly. You will find which ones are noisy. I never have luck with hoses or rods to listen.

I am betting on the 3 squirters. If an engine is once turned over with valves stuck closed, the pressure builds in those particular lifters to a high enough degree that the barrels expand and are no longer tight to the plungers. They will squirt and tap with every stroke.

Here's a photo of a lifter on my 356 that had an excessive oil flow. This turned out to be the lifter that had collapsed and would not 'pump up' causing a loud 'clacking' noise. The lifter was stuck in the lifter body (cam follower) and could not be removed with damaging the lifter body. Had to replace both the hydraulic lifter and lifter body.



Photo taken with engine idling @ 500 rpm.

Thank you Ross. That makes a lot of sense. I figured that with such variation - from dry to "There she blows" that it must be a clue. I just don't have enogh knowledge & experience to know what it meant I'll put the stethoscope to it this afternoon but I'm betting with you on the squirters.
Thanks again.

JD, your picture and comments say it all. Moral of the story is never crank over or start an engine (esp. one with hydraulic lifters) which has been in long storage or in doubtful condition without first determining that all the valves are free which is simple enough to do, just a valve spring compressor is required.

Thank you JD, that picture of the 'blowen" lifter looks very, very familiar. Too familiar I should say. When I check the engine this afternoon I'm thinking Ross's "squirters" and your look a likes are going to match up. I just hope mine aren't as damaged as yours turrned out to be.

Thank you JD, that picture of the 'blowen" lifter looks very, very familiar. Too familiar I should say. When I check the engine this afternoon I'm thinking Ross's "squirters" and your look a likes are going to match up. I just hope mine aren't as damaged as yours turrned out to be.

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All too true! I'm hoping mine aren't as damaged as JD's as I really hadn't planed on this turning out to be THAT big of a project. However we'l soon find out.
I had planned to try starting the engine on my other '51 before the cold weather comes. Guess what I'm going to do first!

Plans being what they are (subject to change without notice) I didn't get back to the valves on my '51 until today. First off, I put the stethoscope to the lifter castings and most of the "squirters" were noisy. To be exact, the seven center lifters were making noise to a greater or lesser extent while the four on either side were quiet. That means the intake and exhaust valves of cylinders 1 & 2 as well as 7 & 8 are quiet. The others.....

I next hooked up a pressure gauge to the lifter tubing and low and behold I've got 40 lbs going to the lifters. Evidently, I reversed the "T" so that the restricter is serving the filter. I know that the valve galley is supposed to be 5 lbs - not 40. Could 35 lbs too much oil pressure be the cause of my problem? If I remember right, It sounded like the valves were quieter after I did that but I won't bet the car on it.

Thoughts please guys?