The cam has arrived, the cam has arrived!

[Classick Century Custom]

Hi fellas my name is Steve I just joined but would like to say that I am looking forward to hearing the idle of this monster lol please post a vid clip if possible. CHEERS!!!

[AaronGTR]

Have you figured out how to lash the pushrods into the hydraulic lifters yet?

That is also very important. Not too hard though, fairly straight forward.

If he's using stock rockers, he doesn't need to do any lash adjustment. The stock rocker pedestal automatically sets the height.


Anyway, can't wait to see/hear this engine whens it's done. Should sound sweet!

[Schmieder]

Oh for Christ's Sake Guys.

Lighten up a bit!!

I've been around engines and racing longer than most of you have been alive.

I had a feeling you were messin a round.

Have you got it installed and running yet? I bet its nice.

Many of us, myself included, surely get a kick out of new toys.

Have fun!

[Schmieder]

If he's using stock rockers, he doesn't need to do any lash adjustment. The stock rocker pedestal automatically sets the height.


Anyway, can't wait to see/hear this engine whens it's done. Should sound sweet!

Well thats good to know. Although, my 3100, when I changed out the head gaskets the hydraulic lifters would sink beyond a full turn beyond zero lash.

So I used a good thread lock to lash them 3/4 turn in. If I were to tighten the rocker nuts full, the lash would be down deep into the lifters.

Maybe its just my engine, who knows. Ran great after the job so all is well there.

I believe you to be correct, I probably have some mix and match parts. Gaskets were .060" and cam didn't have any dramatic wear, neither did the lifters.

When I weld up my turbo soon, I'll have to take a closer look in there.

[Schmieder]

Oh for Christ's Sake Guys.

Lighten up a bit!!

I've been around engines and racing longer than most of you have been alive.

So maybe you can tell me what '710' on my oil cap means?

lol

[robertisaar]

So maybe you can tell me what '710' on my oil cap means?

lol

that's where you pour in the 1.7359413202933985330073349633252 bottles of Formula 409!

[SappySE107]

Well thats good to know. Although, my 3100, when I changed out the head gaskets the hydraulic lifters would sink beyond a full turn beyond zero lash.

So I used a good thread lock to lash them 3/4 turn in. If I were to tighten the rocker nuts full, the lash would be down deep into the lifters.

Its called preload, not lash. I have no idea what possessed you to put thread locker on your rocker arms, and then not tighten them down properly.

[Schmieder]

Its called preload, not lash. I have no idea what possessed you to put thread locker on your rocker arms, and then not tighten them down properly.

I was told it was fine, the proper thing to do. But judging your reply, it seems I was ill-informed.

Preload is what I meant.

What I was instructed to do was to get the pushrods to zero lash. Gently twisting the pushrods while tightening the rocker nuts until I can feel a gentle resistance. At that point I was to make another 180* to 270* turn on the rocker nuts and that was it. The thread lock was to keep the nuts from loosening during operation.

I guess getting advice here is much better then the local mechanic.

Thing is, the preload is quite much if I tightened all the way down. It practically depressed the lifter all the way. Is this correct?

EDIT: It seems I am among much greater professionals here. I guess I will no longer take my car to that shop for inspections. Judging your reply, that advice was terrible.

[bszopi]

That would be the correct way to do it for flat tappets, but not rollers.

[Schmieder]

That would be the correct way to do it for flat tappets, but not rollers.

Ahhh, I see. I told them it was hydraulic roller and still that is what I was told. He said if I tightened all the way down the lifter would pressurize and lift too far possibly breaking/bending the pushrod.

Oh well, live and learn.

Seems you guys know your stuff. Thanks for the clear up.

[SappySE107]

Flat tappets aren't lash adjusted either, just preload adjusted. The rockers are non adjustable, so you have to change pushrod length to change preload. Only the iron heads were adjustable (maybe?). I know aftermarket was. Stock cam and pushrods is .083" preload, which is perfectly fine. They have about .150" travel.

[Schmieder]

Flat tappets aren't lash adjusted either, just preload adjusted. The rockers are non adjustable, so you have to change pushrod length to change preload. Only the iron heads were adjustable (maybe?). I know aftermarket was. Stock cam and pushrods is .083" preload, which is perfectly fine. They have about .150" travel.

darn, I'm going in the garage now and checking things out. I have to measure the preload. I may be wrong but it seemed the preload was far beyond .083"

Maybe more like .25" when the nut was fully tightened.

If the preload is still an issue when I get my new heads, I guess I'm just going to have to get a new length pushrod.

Maybe I'm just wrong, all is fine and I need a little coffee. Happened more then once before, lol.

[SappySE107]

It would run ok with how you have it so long as the nuts don't back off. Probably runs smoother than before because the engine has less lift and duration from the cam now.

[Schmieder]

It would run ok with how you have it so long as the nuts don't back off. Probably runs smoother than before because the engine has less lift and duration from the cam now.

It does run nice, always had.

But when the 'home built' turbo kit gets welded on, i want those nuts on tight and proper.

I don't want to find out what a free nut would do. i can only imagine the steel and aluminum carnage. Oh the horror.

[bszopi]

Its really not that bad... I had a guide plate break once, which allowed a pushrod to bounce around inside the head. Made some noise, but didn't cause any damage.