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OK...here's the puzzle.

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terriphill

Darth Vader
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Stopped by to visit with "Little Satan" today (as my mechanics have lovingly named him) Here's the rub.....
New rebuild on the lower motor. Turned the crank, new pistons rings, new bearings, new cam, new lifters, new oil pump, balanced and aligned... yada yada yada....put it in, cranked it up. With the help of experts...perfectly timed. And it starts a clatter.
It sounds like a valve clack. High in the motor. So, they are going to break down and rebuild the head (again).

Here's the question..
Very little oil is pushing up through the rockers.
Even if the valve didn't seat and it needs to be rebuilt (which I agree with, don't get me wrong) what would this have to do with its inability to pump oil into the rockers? I thought the head was air and gas in...used gas and exhaust out.
With new bearings (I asked about the ports being lined up) ,new oil pump, new piston seals,good compresion and oil pressure....why no oil high in the motor coming out of the rockers? Any ideas?
 
Did they boil the block & blow it out after doing any machine work?
 
Is the rocker mount with the oil hole over the drilling in the head? Some engines have 4 drilled rocker pedestools, some have only one. If it's only one, make sure it's in the right place.
 
Good advise. If you have oil pressure it is kind of obvious that oil is not getting to the rocker. Check the head passages by boiling the head when it is off and make sure rocker ped holes line up. Use an air gun to check that the passageways are really open after you install the rockers.
 
STOP! DO NOT PULL THE HEAD!

I am almost certain the clatter you hear is the because your rocker shaft is bad. Remove your rockers and rocker shaft, disassemble and check.

The shaft can wear and send bits of grunge that clog up the oil passages in the rockers and make a heck of a lot of racket.

I had this exact problem.

BTW, I think bpnorthwest.com may have a good deal on a new rocker shaft.
 
If indeed the rocker shaft is bad it will become very evident with disassembly. The shaft will no longer be nice and round it will have tracks worn in it where the rockers are, maybe only one but that's enough.

In fact it should have been evident when you adjusted the rockers for the most part.
 
Can not speek to 1500 but same should apply for the most part.
 
Terri, have you spun the engine over with the plugs out and the rocker assembly removed? That would indicate whether or not you are getting proper oil flow up through the head.
Jeff
 
Wear appropriate eye protection and have a roll of paper towels handy, too. <nudge-nudge, wink-wink>
 
note to self, check with other BCF members before performing any of Jeff's recommendations!
 
She's NEW at this stuff... not fair to throw ALL th' tricks at her all at ONCE!

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I Drove it today!!!! My first time behind the wheel of a LBC!!!! WOW!! Cool! Its like flying on the ground! Now I finally get it! Do you want to know what was wrong?
 
terriphill said:
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Do you want to know what was wrong?
Click to expand...

Well, if you <u>really</u> feel like sharing............
Jeff
 
Well, DUH!!!

although there could be some well educated guesses...

Starting from too little oil to pedestal junxtaposition. But I bet it was somethin' wot belongs in th' "stupid stuff" category. Do tell!
 
Oh yes! It seems the rebuilt motor I purchased was put together by an idiot. After over thirty hours of frustration they pulled the entire motor AGAIN and took it completely apart AGAIN and went over it. It seems that the Oil galley plug at the front end had been removed and never replaced. They didn't notice when they checked the timing chain and with the cover on..oil came up through the pump and then instead of on up to the rockers it went into the timing cover and back into the pan. No leaks, no lost oil, plenty of pressure...just none to the top.
The rear of the motor also wasn't getting any oil to it, so it kept spinning the bearings. It had actually spun the main bearings. (Which I now know is a much different sound than the rod bearings)
So, new crank, new main bearings, new rod bearings, new thrust washers, head set, new head gasket and over 30 ours of labor (Donated time btw by two guys who love a puzzle and took lots of pity on me) and tonight I GOT TO FLY!!!
Tomorrow its on to shocks, sway bar, bushings and lots of time on my back on a cold hard concrete floor.
Then I gotta start with the switches and lights, and misc little stuff...but Little Satan runs.
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YEEEHAH!
 
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