CAM sugestions for a 383

[ChgrSteve67]

 

[skip68]

My fingers are crossed for you Steve.         You can get the Valvoline VR1 20/50 off road/race oil at NAPA.   That's what I did.     

[skip68]

Checker Auto parts has the oil also.       

[ChgrSteve67]

picked up oil and filters yesterday.

ZDDP+ is supose to show up today.

A few new lifters and cam lube is sitting on my porch right now.

Short of cadastrophic failure I should be able to see what is going on and fix it (patch it) Saturday.

I got my fingers crossed.

I found the invoice to my engine rebuild and called the owner back.
Gave him the information and he said he would look it up and see what information the previous shop kept.
If I have to replace the CAM and Springs I'm fucked.

Anyone know of a good spring replacement tool so I would not have to take the heads off?

Steve (Still palnning for the worse because thats the way my luck rolls)

[skip68]

I think you can rent the spring tool.       

[skip68]

It's Sat.       Give us some good news Steve.   

[ChgrSteve67]

Just got home and I have good news and bad news to report.

I pulled out all of the lifters on the pass side and none of them are improperly worn, the cam also looks good.
Springs and keepers look good.
Rocker arms look good and are wearing properly on the valves.
Push rods look good and are not bent or warn either.

I don't have anything to test the lifters and they all seem pretty solid.
I figured its got to be just a noisy lifter.
Since I had 4 new lifters I flipped a coin and replaced the 6 and 8 cylinder lifters.

put it all back together and ran the break in procedure for the new lifters

and

Drum roll







I still have a lifter knock.      


So......


I'm going to get 4 more new lifters and replace the 4 remaining lifters next Saturday.      

I have to fly out to LA Sunday around 1PM so no more work this weekend.


I tried running the motor with the valve cover off to see if I could figure out which lifter was making noise but I don't have the clips that cover the oil holes so needless to say I ended up with oil all over the place.  

Needless to say I will not be buying any lottery tickets this weekend.

-Steve

[skip68]

    Dammit.            Keep us posted Steve.   

[68blue]

Ouch, that's got to be frustrating. Remember playing that crapshoot back in the 70s, and losing at it.

[ChgrSteve67]

New lifters are on the porch.

Now if I can just get out of LA so I can install them.

The earthquake this morning was lots of fun.
Nice little 4.4
I can't believe they made such a big deal of it on the news this morning.

-Steve

[firefighter3931]

Good luck Steve, let us know how it goes. 


Ron

[Dans 68]

Yes, all of us are rooting for ya! The cruise south would not nearly be as much fun without you.    If I can help in any way let me know. 

Dan

[ChgrSteve67]

Thanks for the offer Dan.
I will let you know how it goes Saturday after I replace the other 4 lifters.

God this class I'm stuck in sucks.
I can't wait to get home.  T-minus 32 hours and counting.

[ChgrSteve67]

Made it home from LA

Flight was 1 1/2 hours late.
I guess there was a problem with the plane and they had to switch it out.

Good to be home.

Tomorrow should be a good day.

[69bronzeT5]

Good luck Steve.....hoping for the best!

[ChgrSteve67]

Final report

I replaced the other 4 lifters today and no joy.  Tick, Tick, Tick   


Well at this point the only other thing it can be is an exhaust leak.
I start taking the exhaust manifold off and I'm missing two nuts between the 2 & 4 cylinder ports.   

I find some nuts, replace the exhaust gasket put it all back together and no Tick, Tick, Tick.   

Oh well, I guess a lot of drama for a little problem.

Well at least I know now everything is good and I'm good to go for Las Vegas.

I still have not heard back from the machine shop about what springs they put in my motor.

I think I'm still going to plan for a cam swap out but some time durring the summer when I have time to screw with it.

Also, its a good thing I'm running the right oil & additive now too.

Thanks for all of your help and support   

-Steve

[Dans 68]

 Good news!     I'm still throwing my dash back together but that is small potatoes. We are a go for Thursday morning. 

Dan

[skip68]

Great news Steve.      

[firefighter3931]

Good to hear it's fixed Steve. Often it's the simple things we overlook that are the source of our problems. 

Enjoy the drive to Vegas 



Ron

[BSB67]

Is there some characteristic about this cam that you do not like?  There is always a better cam, but I've had good experiance with that cam.  FWIW, that cam's actual 0.050" duration is 222 degrees.  MP exagerates there 0.050 numbers.

[ChgrSteve67]

Just looking for a better CAM.

I think my motor could still run better and stronger with a better CAM.

Easier to do it on my terms than the CAM and Lifters terms.