1. Check the firing order with a manual ... not your notes.
2. Did you adjust the valves after you put the head on? I don't remember the procedure on the Ford Inline 6. Find it in a manual.
BTW ... Reaching WWWwwwwaaaaayyyyy back in my memory ... I remember a couple of guys that worked for me ... that didn't get a couple push-rods into the lifters correctly ... the result was a couple of valves that weren't opening AT ALL.
Thinking about that ... It wouldn't hurt to pull off the valve cover, pull the spark plugs and turn the engine BY HAND ... to make CERTAIN that the valves are all opening and closing correctly.
3. You say think the engine is running hot ... what makes you think this?
4. Is the engine pumping water/coolant on the ground when running?
5. To check your temp gauge ... turn the ignition key on, so you can see lights on the dash ... but do NOT start the engine ... take the wire off the temp sensor ... and hold it against head or block (ground the wire) ... and have a buddy check the guage ... it SHOULD pin the needle fully hot.
If the needle pins .. you have a bad sensor. Replace it with a new one (about $20.00) ... then run the engine and see what the gauge says.
The "helicopter sound" you mentioned in your PM sounds like you got a pair of spark plug wires crossed ... or you got a cylinder (or two) that is mis-firing ... maybe even a couple of valves that are out of adjustment.
I checked the firing order to my manual and they are connected right. However a found 2 plug wires that have seen a few miles so that will be next on the list. I'm thinking that is the causing helicopter sound.
I did NOT adjust the valves. I did'nt even know they were adjustable. And I checked my manual about that and I don't understand a word it's saying. I'm a newb so alot of this is way over my head.
How do I turn the engine by hand?
What am I looking for to see if the valves are opening?
you can turn your engine by putting a socket wrench on the large nut holding the crank pulley on. make sure your engine cant crank. lol and go clockwise
An engine running hot and rough, concidering everyting else that i read which you have done, did you adjust the timing to the correct spec's? because if you're timing is out of too much in advance or retard, it is very well possible that you're engine running rough!
And also the mixture, if a engine is running hot, it is also very well possible that you're carburator needs adjustment (or maybe cleaning) because a lean (to less petrol) running engine goes HOT immidiate!
Ii checked the firing order to my manual and they are connected right. However a found 2 plug wires that have seen a few miles so that will be next on the list. I'm thinking that is the causing helicopter sound.
I did NOT adjust the valves. I did'nt even know they were adjustable. And I checked my manual about that and I don't understand a word it's saying. I'm a newb so alot of this is way over my head.
A couple of paragraphs of instructions CAN be overwhelming …especially if these instructions have words you don’t understand … and the information is all just jammed in there.
When you come across instructions like this … try to take them in ONE SENTENCE AT A TIME. Write them out if you have to … ONE SENTENCE AT A TIME.
Underline the instruction, words or phrases that you do not understand.
Find a source (like some old phart) that can explain them to you.
Don’t get discouraged … in all of Man’s history … there only been one man that fell outta his Mom … knowing EVERYTHING.
And you ain’t Him!
You got a manual … and a set of instructions for setting valve lash …
RE-read it … and WRITE OUT what you do NOT understand … then bring it here … and let us fill in the blanks for you.
How do I turn the engine by hand?
Like the feller above said.
Take out the Plugs.
Put a socket on the crankshaft bolt and turn the engine ... clockwise (top of the crankshaft pulley going towards the drivers side).
What am I looking for to see if the valves are opening?
As the Cam shaft spins ... the bumps on it push up on the valve lifter and pushrod,
these pushes up on one side of the rocker arm ... which pivots on the rocker shaft ...
and pushes DOWN on the valve.
You would see a rocker arm with one end higher than the other ... compressing the valve spring.
REMEMBER WHY I TOLD YOU THIS ... THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU DIDN'T GET THE PUSHRODS IN CORRECTLY. You will have to check EACH valve to make sure its opening and closing!
Got home to late tonight to work on the truck. It doesn't fit in my garage and its dark outside. I'll read the manual tonight (again). And try all this tomarrow.
And I can't give up on this truck oddshot. It was my grandpa's and I plan on keeping it. Until my son turns 16 that is. But I don't wanna hand him the keys to a 1/2 paperweight. The way I see it I have just over 15 years to get it right.
i'm puttin my prophet robe on here, dc. i say that you will get it lined out in a short while. i further predict that you will get so into it, you buy at least one more truck.
You are on the best site to get info on the valves. I am sure there are plenty of people on here that are willing to help you.
__________________
"A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality."
You are on the best site to get info on the valves. I am sure there are plenty of people on here that are willing to help you.
Yep. Its killing me that this whole thing could have been:
A) DIAGNOSED with a Compression gauge and a radiator pressure checker
and
2) Back on the road if somebody could have been there lookin' over this young fella's shoulder.
Unless he blew a second head gasket ... or has internal engine problems he ain't described ... I figure this truck is about 1 hours worth of going over by a qualled mechanic to put it to rights. May TWO ... if a cold beer was involved.
I've been on the brink of tossing my tools in the truck and drivin' out there to give this guy a hand for about 5 days now.
I would love to buy another truck greyghost. I have always loved old trucks. My first truck was an 89 s-10 blazer that sit in a field for so long (7 years) it had a tree growing through the floorboard. I had to cut the tree underneath the truck just to get it out of the field. lol However I'll never have enough money to buy another if I can't get this one on the road.
Hey oddhot, I'll see you when you get here! lol I know I need a new air pump check valve for sure. The old one was broken almost completely off and was holding on by a thread and some tape. It's gonna take two days for the new one to come in.
Can I even start the truck without one on there?
"I have never owned a vehicle with a carburetor and I've been told by several people that my truck sounds like it's running to lean due to erratic idling, running hot, and stalling when getting to running temperature.
How do I adjust the carb? Is it by using the idle speed screw that does this?"
No. The idle screw doesn't do it. The MIXTURE screw does.
Yes ... mixture and timing can cause an engine to run hot. BUT, I think you are getting out in front of yourself.
Have you followed the instructions in posts #31 and #36 in this thread?
Are your valves opening and closing?
Are the valves adjusted properly?
Are you SURE you have the firing order (the ignition wires) correct?
This is part of installing the head gasket ... and it NEEDS to be done. And it all must be done RIGHT.
Once these things are correct ... THEN you can go on to set the timing correctly.
And after THAT you can set the idle mixture.
The timing and the idle MIGHT just be the reason the engine is not running well ... But:
1. You will NEVER get these setting correct if you mis-installed one (or more) of the push rods. This will prevent a valve from opening (going up and down) properly.
If you have valves that are adjusted TOO TIGHT ... they will hang open ... this will give you a miss ...a dead cylinder. You will not get the timing or mixture correct with a dead cylinder.
I know I need a new air pump check valve for sure. The old one was broken almost completely off and was holding on by a thread and some tape. It's gonna take two days for the new one to come in.
Can I even start the truck without one on there?
I'm not completely remembering that system ... I'm gonna have to go look that one up ... On SOME vehicles I could say it was the source of all your troubles. But like I said ... I got to go look it up.
I haven't had a chance to work on the truck too much lately. I've been working quite a bit to get some extra cash to throw at it.
And unfortunately, I have a socket that will fit on the plugs but it's too short. I'll have to buy one to take the plugs off. Or just go barrow one from my buddy.
Tomarrow I will take off the valve cover, turn the engine (by hand) and check to see if all the valves are opening.
Can I do this without taking off the pugs?
I will test the temp sensor as described in #31. (If I can find it)
I have already checked the firing order but I will recheck it just in case.
I will also read over the manual again and copy down anything I don't understand and see if anyone who knows what they are doing (Oddshot) can help explain it to me.
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