Rocker Seems to have slack?

[MrMagoo]

Hey SBF'ers,

I just removed the valve covers on my 351. One rocker moves from side to side when apply some pressure. I also noticed that the pushrod for this valve has up and down slack in it. All of the other ones in this bank (drivers side) are snug and the pushrods don't have slack. I think there is some noise in the valve train on this side. Can any one tell me what's going on and how I would go about fixing it?

Thanks Everyone.

[lovehamr]

Is this engine really a stock junker as your sig indicates? If it is stock then the rocker adjusting nut could have come loose in which case it needs to be tightened. The valve spring may have broken in which case it would need to be replaced at the very least. Or maybe something happened down at the cam level; push rod bent, cam lobe went flat, lifter collapsed something like that. Any of these could indicate that you're on borrowed time with that engine, so a rebuild could be in order. If while you’re checking it out you get more info go ahead and post it, now I’m curious.

Steve

[MrMagoo]

First thing I tried was the nut on top of the Rocker, it's very tight. The springs look "kind of old".

The engine is from a 1986 police interceptor. I believe it went through an "engine recycler". It has about 12,000 miles on it post install into this Cobra. It's got an edelbrock performer manifold and some nice COBRA aluminum valve covers, but appears to be stock in all other ways, including the cylinder heads from what I can see. (They are stamped "Ford" and "9D24") It looks very clean and nice and was obviously cleaned up and painted, but I don't have specific information as to whether the cam and lifters were ever replaced when the motor as it is now was assembled.

What you say makes sense. While this engine runs reasonably well (I never take it over 5000 rpm and I drive it only on the street) it may be on borrowed time. I'm just waiting for loan of time to come due