Stock 1994 3100 with rocker clearance issues!

[IsaacHayes]

Found this on my old 3100 intake manifold. Everything was stock and obviously it had rocker clearance issues at some point in it's lifetime.

Looks like when the valve was closed the rocker was binding up on the intake manifold, possibly keeping the valve open partially. I guess it finally wore it'self away though...

Check it out. Discuss.

EDIT: Not from the rockers. No rocker is anywhere close to that mark. Someone must of banged it on something before putting it on the car...

[bszopi]

That doesn't look like its in the right spot for clearance issues...



That is my 3400 manifold when I installed it with the stamped rockers. If you look at where my notches are in comparison to the ports, yours are about an inch more to the side - centered on the port. Makes me think thats not from a rocker...

[IsaacHayes]

This is a small port 3100 LIM. Not 3400. Notice how the 3100 has bulges under the port opening to the head where the 3400 doesn't? I don't think it could be anything else to cause that wear pattern...

I will take a picture later to confirm. It's on the backside of the motor.

<pizzed 3rd time typing this out. stupid wifi router>

[ForcedFirebird]

That doesn't look like its in the right spot for clearance issues...



That is my 3400 manifold when I installed it with the stamped rockers. If you look at where my notches are in comparison to the ports, yours are about an inch more to the side - centered on the port. Makes me think thats not from a rocker...

What kind of stamped rockers did you install? Now you have me concerned about the 1.7's I'm planning on using. If need be, I will modify the rockers and/or LIM now to compensate. Perhaps I will have to wait for final assembly to see?

[IsaacHayes]

FF: That was Brad's 94 stock small port 3100 stamped rockers and he put a 3400 plenum on. 94/95 3100's had stamped rockers (1.6) and don't clear the large port lowers without clearance. The partial roller rockers do clear however, found on 96+ 3100's and all 3400's.

[ForcedFirebird]

FF: That was Brad's 94 stock small port 3100 stamped rockers and he put a 3400 plenum on. 94/95 3100's had stamped rockers (1.6) and don't clear the large port lowers without clearance. The partial roller rockers do clear however, found on 96+ 3100's and all 3400's.

I saw that it's Brad's car, but I am using some Ford 1.7 roller tip rockers, but I'll be sure to wach for this.

I found out the difference of yrs for the stamped/roller rockers when I was in search for the parts for the adjustable rocker conversion on 3500 heads. The gaskets came yesterday, and I found the yellow springs (still on a pair of 2003 3400 heads), along with the parts for the swap from Loner666, woot. Now it's time for porting and polishing.

I will be sure to post pics of any clearance issues I may see. If all goes as planed, I will have found a way to convert to 1.7 rockers for less than $200 on 3x00 heads.

[bszopi]

I have have to go down and bolt a small port lower (do I still have an intact one?!?) to one of my heads. The point I am trying to make is, with the splayed valves, I'm not sure where your nick is, is a location where a rocker is.

[bszopi]

Ok, so I went down and assembled my hacked up manifold to a head (too bad the batteries in my camera are dead!), and there is a rocker directly under that port. Man, its been too long since I've really messed with these engines...

But, again... your's almost looks like more of a sharp nick, where mine is a smooth gouge. Of course, with mine, it wasn't something that just happened out of the blue with the engine running... lol.

For those that never saw my carnage pics...





But again, where your nick is, is from the opposite rocker, where there shouldn't be a clearance issue from what I can tell. Unfortunately, I only have roller rockers in the basement now, so I can't look at how the stamped rockers fair..

[IsaacHayes]

Ok I will go down and take pics now.... brb

[IsaacHayes]

Ok, you're right Brad. I thought that maybe there was another rocker in that area, but that area with the wear mark is right between a huge space with no rocker in front of it. BTW Brad, that's not the kind of powdered metal you want your engine to be made with.

Very odd though, as something hard had to of hit it, because the metal is pushed/smeared downward...

FF: Yes I would verify you have clearance. It will be easy for you since you'll have the engine on an engine stand and can turn it over and really get in there close to watch each rocker. You are doing a new setup no one else has, so it's always good to check. I know the crane gold rockers someone on here had to clearance for on a 3400.

[bszopi]

BTW Brad, that's not the kind of powdered metal you want your engine to be made with.

Tell me about it. It was a ton of fun trying to get allof that cleaned up as well.

FF: Yes I would verify you have clearance. It will be easy for you since you'll have the engine on an engine stand and can turn it over and really get in there close to watch each rocker. You are doing a new setup no one else has, so it's always good to check. I know the crane gold rockers someone on here had to clearance for on a 3400.

Definately take a feeler gauge to every rocker to make sure there is adequate clearances before you go and start up the engine. Its worth the time to check so that you don't have to spend time worrying that you might have metal flakes floating around inside the engine.

[IsaacHayes]

On the 1997 3400 lower and my stamped rockers I had to take so much out that a feeler gauge really doesn't fit. I had to use an inspection mirror and some cardboard to see how much clearance. And then I went back and ground more on the intake in a different spot and some on the rocker arms just to be safe. I went off pictures from Jon's manifold, and of course Brad's worn manifold to estimate where to grind, but when the valve is closed the rocker was closer to the part where I didn't grind so much, so I went back for safe measure. Plus my 97 manifold has a different looking cast than the newer 2000 or so era. The area where I had to grind is more flat than a round bulge... Odd.

No idea how FF's rockers will end up but should be a lot easier to see if they hit than like on mine where I have deep ground depression blocking my view and feeler gauge from seeing how much clearance they have.