So my friends victoria was making some nasty noises from the valve cover area. We removed the cover and I instantly noticed the adjusters were run all the way down no adjustment left at all. We removed the rocker shaft and found the rockers had about 3/8 of slop the shafts badly worn and the rockers egg shaped. The rocker shafts seemed to be clogged And no oil was getting up .  We spun the engine with out the rocker shaft or push rods in place and he did have a flow of oil coming out of the head. So we have ordered new shafts and I have some left over rockers .  He has had the car a short time we may be in for other surprises

ive never seen rocker shafts that bad that was still getting oil.

No oil to the rocker, the shaft was clogged oil does come from hole in head feeding rocker but like I said I think we are in for many surprises with the engine 

If You have oil from the Head that's a Positive. Usually when there's a problem with no Oil its the Bearing that's deteriorated so no Oil flows at all. Re-assemble your new Shafts and see what happens.

  

No telling what previous owners and "rebuilders" may or may not have done over the years re-installing defective parts.

New rocker shafts are readily available for not too much money. The rocker arms are getting a little spendy, but they are available too. I spent about a month scouring eBay buying NOS in onesies and twosies and threesies and averaged about $5 a piece. I guess Rockerarms.com can bush them and restore the originals so don't throw them away, but I would think the cost would approach or exceed finding retail NOS.

It will run a whole lot better without all that slop in the valvetrain.

It’s important that the rocker arm shaft be orientated correctly on the cylinder heads.  There is one oil hole in the bottom of the shaft that must be located such that is directly over the oil hole coming up through the head.  If doing this in the dark, there’s one chance in four in getting it right.  If just concentrating on getting the rocker oiling holes on the bottom of the shaft, then there’s only a fifty percent chance of getting the oil hole for the shaft supply correct if not paying attention.
 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

That’s a good photo I did not think about the slots , I assume cut with a grinder that should help a lot 

Before you re run the engine, u may want  to remove the oil pan, as I suspect it may contain lots of sludge. Also, clean or replace the filter in the lower block breather canister (if your engine is so equipped) & ensure the Oil filler/ breather cap is clear & not obstructed with dirt & oil residue..    
P.S.- re the rocker shafts pictured above,  (Ted may correct me on this?)  the shafts with the diaginal slices I believe are not std ones, but H,D. ones available from Schumann's Sales in Iowa, (563) 381-2416, or fax same -2409  (no Internet) or possibly J. Mummert Machine in Calif.* see by link from here.


Paul

After the new rockers are installed, drain the old oil and ADD an oil that has ZINC.
Any oil designed for diesel engines will have the amount of ZINC need for your Y-block
Good Luck,
Tim
Waiting Room for Heaven,
Florida 33706