I should have said "valve gap issues"

Floyd Staggs · 07-25-2010, 05:56 AM

My truck started running like crap last time out. Had some junk in the carberator. Had the carb gone thru, changed the filter, changed the regulator and put in a new battery cause the old one would lose 2 amps a couple of hours after charging.
Started it up today and it starts fine but still runs like crap. Pulled the valve covers to check rockers and found a interesting phenomena. I've got a comp cams solid roller cam and comp endure x solid rollers. #2 exhaust and #7 exhaust feel spongey. I can put a .026 guage in but I can't rattle them with my fingers. You know how you grab the rocker and check with your fingers first for tight ones? Oh, I've got T&D shaft rockers.
Any ideas? Have I got a couple of bad lifters?

Chuck Westcott · 07-25-2010, 07:26 AM

Floyd,
I just tripped over your post and I Just had a similar issue with my 572. Only I was getting small filings on my Oil drain plug and didn't know where they were coming from.
I pulled the manifold and found 3 bad or going bad lifters, cought it just in time. I decided to junk the old rocker and stud girdle deal and install a new T&D system along with new 7/16 pushrods and new Morel Lifters. Mine was an oiling issue. the Dart block I have had .080 oil restrictors that I put in based on all the adivse I received. I drilled them out to .200 and now have an adequet oil supply to the top end.
My guess is you have a couple of lifters beginning to fail. Get in there before any excessive damage is done to the Cam.

Floyd Staggs · 07-25-2010, 07:54 AM

Chuck, how do you tell if they are going bad?
I changed the oil and filter before I started it and the drain plug was clean. So was the oil. I musta missed an oil change in my log book. I normally change every 2 races but the book said 4.
I've been using T&D for 3 years and haven't had the gap change at all. I don't spin my 540 very high cause I want it to live forever. I guess the manifold comes off today. I'm going to check the pushrods first.
Thanks,

Chuck Westcott · 07-25-2010, 08:16 AM

The first sign is excessive play at the rockers, pull the pushrods and see if there is any galling on the ends. My lifters were worn excessively on the roller shafts. I had 80 passes on the old set-up and I go through the lights @ 7400.
To be on the safe side look at all of the lifters and the cam.
I'm not an engine builder by any means, perhaps someone with more experience would chime in. I found my problem and over fixed it with all new parts. I don't want any issues for the rest of the season. Let us know what you find.

Floyd Staggs · 07-25-2010, 08:24 AM

I don't look forward to pulling the rocker arms. They were a pain to set up the first time. Getting all those spacers right for the geometry.
Guess I better get to work
Thanks

Floyd Staggs · 07-25-2010, 04:56 PM

Pulled the rockers and the push rods. They are all straight but there are wear spots on 2, 3 and 7 exhaust. The rollers look and feel fine but I'm going to send them in for a freshen up anyhow. It don't cost that much. A neighbor stopped by and said I either had some broken springs or tuliped a couple of valves. That would cause the lash to go away. Guess I'll pull the heads. Damn race cars.

07-25-2010, 05:56 AM	#1
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 145 Liked 227 Times in 99 Posts	I should have said "valve gap issues" My truck started running like crap last time out. Had some junk in the carberator. Had the carb gone thru, changed the filter, changed the regulator and put in a new battery cause the old one would lose 2 amps a couple of hours after charging. Started it up today and it starts fine but still runs like crap. Pulled the valve covers to check rockers and found a interesting phenomena. I've got a comp cams solid roller cam and comp endure x solid rollers. #2 exhaust and #7 exhaust feel spongey. I can put a .026 guage in but I can't rattle them with my fingers. You know how you grab the rocker and check with your fingers first for tight ones? Oh, I've got T&D shaft rockers. Any ideas? Have I got a couple of bad lifters? __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST Last edited by Floyd Staggs; 07-25-2010 at 06:37 AM.

07-25-2010, 07:54 AM	#3
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 145 Liked 227 Times in 99 Posts	Re: I should have said "valve gap issues" Chuck, how do you tell if they are going bad? I changed the oil and filter before I started it and the drain plug was clean. So was the oil. I musta missed an oil change in my log book. I normally change every 2 races but the book said 4. I've been using T&D for 3 years and haven't had the gap change at all. I don't spin my 540 very high cause I want it to live forever. I guess the manifold comes off today. I'm going to check the pushrods first. Thanks, __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

07-25-2010, 08:16 AM	#4
Chuck Westcott Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brownsburg,Indiana Posts: 326 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: I should have said "valve gap issues" The first sign is excessive play at the rockers, pull the pushrods and see if there is any galling on the ends. My lifters were worn excessively on the roller shafts. I had 80 passes on the old set-up and I go through the lights @ 7400. To be on the safe side look at all of the lifters and the cam. I'm not an engine builder by any means, perhaps someone with more experience would chime in. I found my problem and over fixed it with all new parts. I don't want any issues for the rest of the season. Let us know what you find. __________________ Chuck Westcott- S/C -S/G 225

07-25-2010, 08:24 AM	#5
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 145 Liked 227 Times in 99 Posts	Re: I should have said "valve gap issues" I don't look forward to pulling the rocker arms. They were a pain to set up the first time. Getting all those spacers right for the geometry. Guess I better get to work Thanks __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

07-25-2010, 04:56 PM	#6
Floyd Staggs VIP Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cucamonga, CA Posts: 1,522 Likes: 145 Liked 227 Times in 99 Posts	Re: I should have said "valve gap issues" Pulled the rockers and the push rods. They are all straight but there are wear spots on 2, 3 and 7 exhaust. The rollers look and feel fine but I'm going to send them in for a freshen up anyhow. It don't cost that much. A neighbor stopped by and said I either had some broken springs or tuliped a couple of valves. That would cause the lash to go away. Guess I'll pull the heads. Damn race cars. __________________ Floyd Staggs 787 SST

07-25-2010, 07:26 AM	#2
Chuck Westcott Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Brownsburg,Indiana Posts: 326 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: I should have said "valve gap issues" Floyd, I just tripped over your post and I Just had a similar issue with my 572. Only I was getting small filings on my Oil drain plug and didn't know where they were coming from. I pulled the manifold and found 3 bad or going bad lifters, cought it just in time. I decided to junk the old rocker and stud girdle deal and install a new T&D system along with new 7/16 pushrods and new Morel Lifters. Mine was an oiling issue. the Dart block I have had .080 oil restrictors that I put in based on all the adivse I received. I drilled them out to .200 and now have an adequet oil supply to the top end. My guess is you have a couple of lifters beginning to fail. Get in there before any excessive damage is done to the Cam. __________________ Chuck Westcott- S/C -S/G 225