I'm going tomorrow to look at a 1976 F-150 360ci auto trans.

I'm not to familiar with the FE's (had a 1966 Cyclone 390 GT as a kid but never opened the motor)

a friend of mine just bought it, for the canopy (shortbox stepside)
It had been sitting for a year, he put a carb kit in it and then drove it home,
he says that at first it drove great, quiet, lots of power,and then it started getting noisy, top end noise,until when he had it almost home it started missing.He probably drove it no more than 25 miles.
Were these truck engines rockershaft? or were they pedastal rockers?

Other than he toasted the engine any ideas?
timing chain? (could I be so lucky?)

thanks

 

sounds like maybe a lifter collasped or a bent pushrod. possible rocker problem also. only one way to find out, take the valve cover off and see what you find. its problably a press in stud or pedastal rocker.

 

Bzzt. Wrong answer. They have one rocker shaft per side, and all the rockers are on this shaft. There are four rocker shaft stands per side.

Right now I'd say it could be almost anything. My intuition tells me it could be a collapsed hydraulic lifter. They will make noise and cause the symptoms you're describing. It could also be a timing chain, but if it's that bad then it's about to go and it should be replaced ASAP.

 

Ok I popped the valve covers......and I have 4 Badly bent pushrods sooo I guess I will pull out a good one and go and size some replacements.

 

Ok I replaced the bent pushrods (rockershafts) and turned it over by hand then buttoned it up and it runs Great!

Thanks for your help guys.

 

B. Abel, good work!

I've seen a few FE's that bend pushrods on initial startup after sitting - the valves stick in the heads. If you're lucky, the valves in question will be closed and the pistons won't hit 'em. If you're REALLY lucky, the piston hitting the open valves frees them up and you just have to change pushrods and it runs great.

Sounds like you're REALLY lucky