Checking for oil in a SB Ford

If you spin up your small block Ford with the valve covers off you can tell if you have oil in the engine. I used to have a clean engine and a clean bilge. Anyone else know what I'm talking about? Imagine firing up your engine sitting on the back of the seat, checking the tach, oil pressure, water temp, setting the RPMs where you want them and turning around and seeing 16, yes 16, oil fountains squirting over both sides of the boat. I haven't ever seen anything like it. My Chryslers never did that. (Even my driveway has a fresh coat of oil.)

Yeah, you can't go much over idle with the valve covers without making a huge mess.

Yeh, I used to hate that part of an engine rebuild or head work, etc. Until, I learned how to adjust the lash statically without starting the engine.

Fairly simple to do: I first fill the lifters with oil from an old fashioned oil pump can (stops valve clatter when first starting then engine as the lifters do not have to be pumped up). Then, with the valves closed, I spin the push rod with my fingers as I tighted down on the rocker arm. When I fell resistance on the push rod, I stop tightening...done. This give the lifter just the right amount of preload and I have never had to go back in....well, maybe once (I think I missed one).