Bent Pushrod

[imperigal]

Sorry to hear of your problem. Glad to hear that everything is going back together for you with the 73 T&C, one of my favorite years as well.

You said (spacers), am I missing something? What spacers are you referring to?

On each rocker shaft there are 4 spacers, 1 between each pair of rocker arms. Mine were worn pretty well, so the rocker arms had way more side to side play than they should have had. I will try to take some pics of the new vs old tomorrow. Got the driver's side done. Tomorrow morning will do passenger. Then I'll try turning it by hand to see how the valves behave - good suggestion! (Forgot who mentioned that idea)

Carlisle is a great show. Only have been once, but hope to go again soon!

 

[Little Pete]

On each rocker shaft there are 4 spacers, 1 between each pair of rocker arms. Mine were worn pretty well, so the rocker arms had way more side to side play than they should have had. I will try to take some pics of the new vs old tomorrow. Got the driver's side done. Tomorrow morning will do passenger. Then I'll try turning it by hand to see how the valves behave - good suggestion! (Forgot who mentioned that idea)

Carlisle is a great show. Only have been once, but hope to go again soon!

Ah yes, the spacers between the rocker arms. Ok, I know what you mean now. I guess for some reason I didn't think of them as spacers, but that's exactly what they are.

Good luck with everything tomorrow let us know how it all goes.

Not to be nosy, but how much did everything run you from Mancini?

 

[imperigal]

Ah yes, the spacers between the rocker arms. Ok, I know what you mean now. I guess for some reason I didn't think of them as spacers, but that's exactly what they are.

Good luck with everything tomorrow let us know how it all goes.

Not to be nosy, but how much did everything run you from Mancini?

Along with a stock oil pump (not taking any chances), it was $389. Rocker arms, spacers, pushrods, valve cover gaskets and oil pump. Prob could have gotten them cheaper ordering online but wouldn't have had everything today!

 

[70bigblockdodge]

No spacers on a big block only the hold-downs.

 

[imperigal]

No spacers on a big block only the hold-downs.

My 440 has spacers.... . In the middle of each pair of rockers. Plus the hold downs in between the pairs.

 

[moper]

Spacers are on all big blocks...

 

[imperigal]

Update: engine sounds GREAT! No more valve train clacking! Will double check the timing tomorrow, but actually sounds spot on. My guess is that the previous owner started it up after sitting for many years without taking precautions. Little Pete, I am SO GLAD you started this thread the evening before I needed this info

Any progress on your end? Or are you just parking it for now?

 

[70bigblockdodge]

My bad, there are spacers.

 

[Little Pete]

Update: engine sounds GREAT! No more valve train clacking! Will double check the timing tomorrow, but actually sounds spot on. My guess is that the previous owner started it up after sitting for many years without taking precautions. Little Pete, I am SO GLAD you started this thread the evening before I needed this info

Any progress on your end? Or are you just parking it for now?

Update: engine sounds GREAT! No more valve train clacking! Will double check the timing tomorrow, but actually sounds spot on. My guess is that the previous owner started it up after sitting for many years without taking precautions. Little Pete, I am SO GLAD you started this thread the evening before I needed this info

Any progress on your end? Or are you just parking it for now?

Imperialgal, well after a long weekend of helping the teenage daughter out with some things I finally got back on this project. Glad to hear you got the car humming again and everything has seemed to smooth out in the valve train. I am glad that I started the thread as well. I know enough to be dangerous but am not afraid that sometimes I need people to bounce ideas off of.

Tonight I took my time and pulled the fan and 2 piece fan shroud off to get it out of my way to turn the crank.

So, then I pulled the rocker arm shaft and straightened out the bent pushrod in the vice as many on here mentioned to do. It took some doing to get it fairly straight but I got it. Then put everything back together and tried turning the engine by hand. So far so good! I ran through the rocker arms many times through many cycles and that rocker arm moved and the valve moved.

I wanted to do a compression test but didn't get that far because I still need to torque the rocker arm shaft down properly. Also, compression tests are not a one person job and I needed another set of hands which I did not have tonight.

Engine sounds very tight and you can hear/feel the compression when you hand turn the crank so hopefully the compression test will go well.

So, I don't know where to go after this. If the compression test is good I guess I can chalk it up to some bad gas and the engine sitting for awhile causing a stuck valve (3rd pushrod from the front on the drivers side-think it's cylinder 3). That push rod could have been bent for awhile, since I never did more then start the car and let it idle.

If the compression test goes well, I guess I'm buying ALL new pushrods and see what it does?

I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and continued advice.

 

[Davea Lux]

If you have a good compression test and all the valves are moving freely, you probably do not have any significant engine damage internally. I would start the engine after the compression test and let it run for awhile. This will recenter the lifters so you can do a more realistic comp check. (some lifters may be bottomed out from sitting).

Dave

 

[Little Pete]

If you have a good compression test and all the valves are moving freely, you probably do not have any significant engine damage internally. I would start the engine after the compression test and let it run for awhile. This will recenter the lifters so you can do a more realistic comp check. (some lifters may be bottomed out from sitting).

Dave

Thanks Dave! I will try and get the compression test done this week and will let you know the numbers on everything/average. It stinks, because I still need my gas tank from Vans Auto to truly start the car again. Probably will just end up using a 5 gallon gas can with a rubber hose off the fuel pump for the time being though. That gas tank is what started this whole mess. Well at least when it's all done I'll have a brand new fuel system (re-built carb, new fuel lines, and a new fuel pump) and probably some new pushrods. Oh and an empty car fund.

I'll keep you updated!

 

[Little Pete]

Finally got back on this project. New push rod installed and everything is tight. Getting ready to do the compression test.

You'll never believe what I found on the back of the engine. Between the intake and the valley pan in the back somebody took household insulation 2x2 square wrapped it in aluminum foil and stuffed it in under the intake to fill the gap.

Here's the question, WHY?

Only possible reasoning I can figure is to keep animals from nesting? Not sure if any mechanical purpose fits.

Anyways I might pull the intake now just to investigate then change the valley pan. I just so happen to have a new one.

It'll give me a chance to inspect the motor more anyway.

What luck.............

 

[imperigal]

Finally got back on this project. New push rod installed and everything is tight. Getting ready to do the compression test.

You'll never believe what I found on the back of the engine. Between the intake and the valley pan in the back somebody took household insulation 2x2 square wrapped it in aluminum foil and stuffed it in under the intake to fill the gap.

Here's the question, WHY?

Only possible reasoning I can figure is to keep animals from nesting? Not sure if any mechanical purpose fits.

Anyways I might pull the intake now just to investigate then change the valley pan. I just so happen to have a new one.

It'll give me a chance to inspect the motor more anyway.

What luck.............

That's just downright bizarre. Your guess is a good one though!

 

[saforwardlook]

Finally got back on this project. New push rod installed and everything is tight. Getting ready to do the compression test.

You'll never believe what I found on the back of the engine. Between the intake and the valley pan in the back somebody took household insulation 2x2 square wrapped it in aluminum foil and stuffed it in under the intake to fill the gap.

Here's the question, WHY?

Only possible reasoning I can figure is to keep animals from nesting? Not sure if any mechanical purpose fits.

Anyways I might pull the intake now just to investigate then change the valley pan. I just so happen to have a new one.

It'll give me a chance to inspect the motor more anyway.

What luck.............

Chrysler did that to help quiet the valvetrain noise emanating from the engine since the valley of the engine is covered only with a thin metal gasket/cover, rather than other arrangements in other engines where there is mostly cast iron to help quell the noise and no valley pan. This was done on B engines but not on LA engines, for example, since those cast iron intakes completely cover the valley.

 

[Little Pete]

Chrysler did that to help quiet the valvetrain noise emanating from the engine since the valley of the engine is covered only with a thin metal gasket/cover, rather than other arrangements in other engines where there is mostly cast iron to help quell the noise and no valley pan. This was done on B engines but not on LA engines, for example, since those cast iron intakes completely cover the valley.

Makes perfect sense. So this is a virgin engine? Never been apart or someone would not have put that insulation back? Just never seen this before on my other cars. Maybe not strange but new to me.

 

[Little Pete]

Here is what it looks like after I pulled the intake tonight. Question is, should this go back? I'm guessing not a big deal and leave it off. It's not in perfect shape.

 

[imperigal]

Here is what it looks like after I pulled the intake tonight. Question is, should this go back? I'm guessing not a big deal and leave it off. It's not in perfect shape.

View attachment 192740

View attachment 192741

View attachment 192742

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Looks like a couple of Chipotle burritos tucked in the engine!

 

[Davea Lux]

The insulation is there mostly for noise suppression, no big deal if you leave it out. Take care with debris falling into your intake ports as that can cause you a lot of grief.

Dave

 

[Little Pete]

The insulation is there mostly for noise suppression, no big deal if you leave it out. Take care with debris falling into your intake ports as that can cause you a lot of grief.

Dave

Thanks Dave! I am actually taping off the ports as we speak. Awesome advice.

Ok, I am not going to put this crap back in then. It is not in the best of shape and looks 50+ years old.

 

[Little Pete]

The insulation is there mostly for noise suppression, no big deal if you leave it out. Take care with debris falling into your intake ports as that can cause you a lot of grief.

Dave

Dave would you put black RTV around the intake runners on the valley pan? I know it's a crush gasket. I also know to put the supplied RTV on the front and back valley ledges under the tab holders. Just don't want a vacuum leak and know people have varied opinions about the intake runners and getting the valley pan gasket on correctly.

Thanks for any thoughts you may have.