What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Pulled the Valve Covers.. FOUND THE PROBLEM *EDIT: stud replaced*

What fun do I have to look foward to (watch vid if you can to get idea)

  • pulled stud

    Votes: 6 21.4%

  • wiped out cam lobe

    Votes: 4 14.3%

  • bent push rod

    Votes: 1 3.6%

  • dead lifter

    Votes: 1 3.6%

  • you have to run the engine NEKKID to figure it out

    Votes: 16 57.1%
  • Total voters
    28
78Suburban

78Suburban

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Posts
2,609
Reaction score
0
Location
Georgia
I think I found whats wrong, now I just need to figure out how to fix it. I pulled my plugs, plug wires, and HEI wire and got a buddy to tap the motor over a few times. This was with the valve covers off. All of the rockers are very loose feeling, I can shake them from side to side. One of them is so loose that it sits side ways and has TONS of play.. I don't know if its just an adjustment issue, or if its something more complicated.

rockers3.jpg


rockers2.jpg


rockers.jpg


What do yall think? What should I do next?
thanks,
James
 
Last edited:
that will defently do it, adjust them how they are supposed to be and then go from there, if there are other problems it will still show after the adjustments
 
Would I be better off adjusting them with the motor running or not? Its running soo poorly now that I probably wont' be able to adjust them that way. I'm thinking this one may need something more than adjustment, as it actually sits a litte sideways.
 
Hey, that sounds familiar ... my BB, one had in fact almost come OFF, as the stud had sheared from it being loose for gods knows how long :( and only the nut was holding it in place :eek:

Replaced the stud and adjusted the lot, and she runs pretty good now.

-- A
 
Maybe you have a flat cam lobe :( . adjust them with it running . just back off untill the rocker starts clackin then tighten just till it stops and go a 1/4 turn more . good luck . Yes it can be a bit messy but that's what engine degreaser is for .
 
Pull the rocker that is sitting crooked and look at the rocker stud, i'll bet it is about sawed in half. Don't worry, it can be repaired with the head still on the engine. Check it out and see if that's what you find then PM me and i will explain in detail how to fix it.
 
One of those rockers is almost sideways and wicked loose, this vid should help to show what I'm talking about.

 
yup. something is bad, either bad lifters, or flat cam, and i am willing to bet, the person you bought it from, KNEW there was something WRONG with the motor when it was sold to you.

tighten them up, and see how it runs is all you can do now.
 
Oh I've walked this road before... At least your rocker is not broken in half laying on the head... You can adjust em with the engine runnning or with it off, according to the book.
 
You have probablly pulled a rocker arm stud, it's very common. take a flat edge and lay it across the top of the studs this will tell you if they are pullindg or not. If they are you simply pull the stud tap the haed and replace it with a screw in stud available at most auto parts stores. If not you either wore a lobe off of you cam or you have a lifter that is collapsed which really is not that bad either if it's just the lifter.
 
go down to your parts store and see if they have oil deflectors.. Clip em on the rockers and adjust away.. they're cheap, I've got like 2 sets in my box..

http://store.summitracing.com/partd...art=MRG-1015&N=400330+302824+115&autoview=sku

loosen, clatter, tighten to quiet, 1/4 more.. also check that rocker and pushrod for travel to see if its the same as the others... could be a wiped lobe, colapsed lifter, etc...
 
don't bother playing around with the engine running. Do it with the engine off. All you need are feeler gauges and the usual wrench and torks set(the star looking thingy). First put each cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke as you adjust those valves. I like to adjust the rockers to .006in between the valve and rocker arm. Loosen the torks lock and then tighten nut acordingly until proper spacing is achieved. Then tighten the torks lock in the nut and presto chango you just adjusted your rocker arms.
 
Chevy305 said:
don't bother playing around with the engine running. Do it with the engine off. All you need are feeler gauges and the usual wrench and torks set(the star looking thingy). First put each cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke as you adjust those valves. I like to adjust the rockers to .006in between the valve and rocker arm. Loosen the torks lock and then tighten nut acordingly until proper spacing is achieved. Then tighten the torks lock in the nut and presto chango you just adjusted your rocker arms.
Click to expand...

If his cam is hydraulic, (which i'm sure it is) the info you just gave is incorrect. The correct method if doing it with the engine off is to find TDC then loosen the rocker nut until there is play then slowly start tightening the rocker nut while spinning the pushrod, once you feel a slight drag you go an additional 1/2 turn and you're done.

The only time you adjust the valves and have clearance between the rocker and the tip of the valve is when you're running a solid lifter camshaft, and even then the clearance is alot more than .006".
 
4X4HIGH said:
If his cam is hydraulic, (which i'm sure it is) the info you just gave is incorrect. The correct method if doing it with the engine off is to find TDC then loosen the rocker nut until there is play then slowly start tightening the rocker nut while spinning the pushrod, once you feel a slight drag you go an additional 1/2 turn and you're done.

The only time you adjust the valves and have clearance between the rocker and the tip of the valve is when you're running a solid lifter camshaft, and even then the clearance is alot more than .006".
Click to expand...

Oh, my bad.
 
You have quite a mess there, with a posibilty of several major problems ranging from flat cam, bent push rods, dead lifters, to pressed in studs pulled out, and galled valve stems. I am surprised during the whole time you have been having a problem with your engine that you did not notice the valves clacking. Valves that loose would have made some major slapping noise.
 
Chevy305 said:
don't bother playing around with the engine running. Do it with the engine off. All you need are feeler gauges and the usual wrench and torks set(the star looking thingy). First put each cylinder to TDC on the compression stroke as you adjust those valves. I like to adjust the rockers to .006in between the valve and rocker arm. Loosen the torks lock and then tighten nut acordingly until proper spacing is achieved. Then tighten the torks lock in the nut and presto chango you just adjusted your rocker arms.
Click to expand...

eh, fresh setup or fresh parts, sure.. but by the looks of those rockers and how much he's tried to run it, I'd just do it the quick way... Definitely worth checking that stud first tho...
 
4X4HIGH said:
If his cam is hydraulic, (which i'm sure it is) the info you just gave is incorrect. The correct method if doing it with the engine off is to find TDC then loosen the rocker nut until there is play then slowly start tightening the rocker nut while spinning the pushrod, once you feel a slight drag you go an additional 1/2 turn and you're done.

The only time you adjust the valves and have clearance between the rocker and the tip of the valve is when you're running a solid lifter camshaft, and even then the clearance is alot more than .006".
Click to expand...

eesh, I was such a hardcore solids fan for years... Love that bottom end torque, but hate that maintenence... I've grown old and lazy, thus I prefer hydro anyday these days... :wink1:
 
how do I know if I have hydro of solid??? SUPPOSEDLY It may not be stock.. SUPPOSEDLY its a 350 out of a '73 camaro, I guess I need to crawl back there and look at the bellhousing.. man I should have done that before I dropped it in the truck :mad:
 
your hydro..

haha, i never even read past chevy305's first line.... didn't even see he gave the solids info... :doah: :haha:

Damn it, pay attention Ryoken!! :doah: :o :haha:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom