problem with the motor

[FastGT31]

this will be long and i'll apologize now for it. i drove my car to work on monday, was running fine during the day. i got off and when i started it i heard a loud ticking coming from the motor, sounded like valvetrain. i drove it home being carefull. i pulled the front valve cover off cuz its where the noise seemed to be coming from (by listening). the intake rocker for cylinder 2 was extremely loose. i went through all them and retighened them according to crane (they are gold race 1.5). after i did that i started it and the motor was shaking pretty bad and running rough like a cylinder was misfiring. i checked everything that i could that night and it seemed fine. today i pulled the plugs and they are black and its running really rich (lots of smoke from the exhaust) the check engine light came on, code 33- low vacuum. i changed computers just to see if it may have crapped out and the second one pulled the same code. i dont know what else it could be. im thinking that lifter may have been damaged but i was watching the rockers moving while it was running and they all seemed to be moving fine.

im hoping someone here may have any suggestions

[FastGT31]

i said code 33 was low vacuum, my book actually says map sensor circuit. i changed the map out with another one i had and that did nothing

[torq455]

check for vac leaks. make sure the map wiring is ok. did you by chance take the ignition wires off and ended up crossing a couple of wires?

[FastGT31]

i didnt take any wires off, just the front valve cover to readjust the rockers. i checked all the vacuum hoses i could see easily. i'll take the upper plenum off to check the hard lines there.

[ProjectMM]

Sounds like you have a intake valve to tight, I'de try backing off the rockers just a hair to see if that helps!

[FastGT31]

the intake rocker was the one that was way too loose, i'll check them all again. i tightened them all according to cranes instructions. they say 1/2 to 1 full turn after resistance is felt while spinning the pushrod. i only tightened them 1/2 additinal turn and then locked them down.

[Raydar]

My first inclination was to say that you might have knocked the vacuum line off of the FPR, since it was running so rich.
On my engine (3.4 in a Fiero) the MAP and FPR are both fed by the same vacuum port, through a T-fitting. Make sure (again) that all the vacuum lines are in place. If yours is connected like mine, a bad connection at any of those points could cause the "too much fuel" and "bad map" trouble code.

You *did* rotate the engine to TDC on each cylinder before you adjusted the valves for that cylinder... right?

[torq455]

the intake rocker was the one that was way too loose, i'll check them all again. i tightened them all according to cranes instructions. they say 1/2 to 1 full turn after resistance is felt while spinning the pushrod. i only tightened them 1/2 additinal turn and then locked them down.

Crane cams told me to spin untill that resistance, then tighten 1 1/2 turns. unless one of your lifters is shot.....

[FastGT31]

the vacuum lines arent near the front valve cover so there was no way i did anything to that. i checked it all anyway just to be sure. according to cranes instructions, watch for the exhaust valve to start to open, then adjust the intake rocker "because the intake lifter will be on the base circle of the lobe, the correct position for adjusting the intake". thats their instructions. then it says to tighten them one half to one full turn, then lock the adjuster in place. i was talking to a friend today that builds engines for a living, he thinks they are too tight possibly not allowing the intake valve/valves to close all the way. i wanted to do it today but the weather did not allow it.

[FastGT31]

an update: i called crane yesterday and they said that when the resistance is felt, only turn the nut 1/8 to 1/4 turn max, so i go out today, redid them all, fired it up...

puuuurrred like a kitten.

im so glad its running good.

thanks to everyone that responded

[Green1995Camarov6]

1/8?. to a 1/4, Stock Rocker studs?. Service manual says 1 and half, you could run it to 1 full turn, so the valves wont float at high revs

[FastGT31]

they are not stock studs or rockers. they are crane gold race full rollers that came with crane studs

[torq455]

aren't they the 3.8 to 10 mm? that stud is a fine thread. i'd never consider only 1/4 turn. what i don't get is crane told me the 1 1/2 turns. shouldn't matter what rockers you use. any case, glad your car is running again.

[FastGT31]

another update...

had it running, no noises or anything. i thought it was running good. i take it out for a ride last week and notice a lack in power. i finally get a chance to check it out. i had a friend crank the motor by hand as i watch the front rockers, the one that was loose originally now barely opens the valve. i think it rounded the lobe. it sucks

[torq455]

oooohhhhh thaaat sucks!!! time to go roller!!!!!