351 Pushrods to short?

kidcobra · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 04:08 PM

Hey All I just picked up my new toy Friday and I was looking it iver and I was noticing that the rocker huts are all the way down with no more threads left. I was going to adjust the rods but there is no room for turning the down more. I am running a RP-3166 right now. And I noticed that the rocker was hitting on the spring cap.
The question I have is should they be that way or do I need longer pushrods.
Or is my cam fubared?

All the help will be great.
Thanks
Matt

Bruce Edwards · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 04:16 PM

What type of studs are on the heads? If they are not screw in studs they may be pulling out.
If not it could be a cam/lifter problem. How many miles are on the engine?

kidcobra · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 04:35 PM

Well the car was built in 91 yet the guy was saying that it only has 2300 on the spedo and it was right. And I didnt beleave him. I dont think the cam is flat because all 16 rods are like this.
And I didnt even look at the studs.
so I dont know about that

Bruce Edwards · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 05:34 PM

Take one rocker off and check. What type of rocker is on the engine?

kidcobra · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Edwards

Take one rocker off and check. What type of rocker is on the engine?

Well they are not a roller rocker and have a standerd looking ford marking on them. Is there something else I should lokk for on them?
Matt

Bruce Edwards · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 05:43 PM

Sounds like you may have the wrong pushrods but you should pull a lifter to be sure.

kidcobra · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 05:46 PM

I pulled a lifter off to get the part number off the the pushrod. They seemed to me in great shape. I was asked by the parts guy at the local speed shop if it was a "non-adjustable motor" I really have no clue if it is or not. Did Ford even make a torque spec valve train?

Bruce Edwards · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 05:50 PM

Matt,

The lifter is in the block and rides on the cam. The valve train on most older Fords was not adjustable. You tightened the nut till it hit the built in stop on the stud. The stop is a shoulder built into the stud. That is why I asked if you had screw in or pressed studs.

kidcobra · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 05:54 PM

Ahhhh Bruce you are the man. See I am a Chevy guy from birth and finally woke up and realised that Chevy never made anything as cool or fun to drive like the Cobra.
So were the push in style prone for being a little bit noisier then the bolt in style.

Bruce Edwards · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:03 PM

Noise had nothing to do with it. Like the Chevy Ford found it was less money to press in studs and not thread the holes.

kidcobra · #11 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:07 PM

Okay so I have a more valve chatter then I like to hear. So is there anyway to see if they are pulled out. If they are press in.

Bruce Edwards · #12 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:11 PM

If you remove a rocker and check the stud were it goes into the head you will see a shiny area at the bottom the stud. You can also check by laying a straight edge across the tops of the studs. If some are lower than others some may be pulling out. You would be looking for a big difference not a small one.

kidcobra · #13 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:16 PM

Well Bruce I tried the straight edge trick after my last reply. they all are touching. Now if my lifters are going bad would it be un-heard of to see all of them go T/U at the same time?
Oh and the next size up from the rods I have now are the RP=3209 which is .040 longer. Do you think that amout will help?

Thanks
Matt

Bruce Edwards · #14 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:21 PM

Matt,

If the pushrods are the right ones and the rockers are hitting the valve retainers you have a larger problem. I hate to say it but sounds like you need to pull the intake and pull a lifter. The rockers should never touch the retainers.
Do you have any idea what year the engine is?

kidcobra · #15 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:25 PM

I was told it is a 1969 351W with a hydrolic RV cam running a 10.5-1 compression.

Bruce Edwards · #16 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:36 PM

The 69 has a shorter deck than the later 351's. If anything the pushrods should be a bit long. If the cam goes bad and lifters cup on the bottom the pushrods will look short and the rockers will start to go off cneter and hit the retainers. If the rocker hits the retainer hard enough it will pop the valve retainers out and drop a valve into the cylinder. Very bad things start to happen.
You really need to check into your engine more.

kidcobra · #17 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 06:50 PM

Well I will pull the intake and look at a few lifters. Now if you can tell me what to look for to see if they are going bad it would help me out a great deal.
Now if things do need to be replaced what cam would you go with? I have always and others work on my things but I would like to do this one myself just for the pride of it.
Matt

Bruce Edwards · #18 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 07:39 PM

Matt,

As I said in the earlier posting you would look for a dish in the bottom of the lifter. It should look flat. It really is not but will look that way to your eye. If you see any sighs of it being dished you will need to replace the cam and lifters as well as pull the oil pan and check for damage due to metal being worn off the cam and lifters.
If all of the rockers look the same I do not think you will find a bad lifter and cam but at this point it is best to check to be sure.
Always use new gaslets when you put it back together.
Let me know what you find.
If it will help in any way you can call me at my shop Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00 est 407-857-8587

kidcobra · #19 (**permalink**) 08-01-2004, 09:13 PM

Bruce,
You have been a lot of help. I pulled the lifter that was touching and the lifter looked fine. So I pulled 3 more. So a total of 2 per side. They looked great. I am starting to wonder if it is actually a 69 block or it just came out of a 69 vehicle. And whom ever rebuilt it assumed that it was a 69 block and used 69 rods. So I need to find the casting number and find out for sure. Now that should be on the pass side where the starter is located right. I will look and get it posted on here for you.
Thanks a bunch
Matt

Bruce Edwards · #20 (**permalink**) 08-02-2004, 04:59 AM

You need to put the lifters in the SAME spot or you will screw up the cam.