OK let the name calling commence, I'm pretty sure that you guys can't be worse than I've already been on myself.
I'm not sure that this is my whole problem or not, but it is an important problem. Evidently I slept through the chapters about pushrod length while I was rebuilding this motor. I've got the book by Steve Christ and even remember the machine shop telling me to check pushrod length. Well I didn't so I went through the procedure and found that I have no gap between the valve stem and rocker and the pushrods would barley spin. So I pulled two pushrods and two lifters and inspected them. They apear fine the lifter bases are still convex and the rods roll flat. The cam lobes on these two don't look flattened or to have rought edges, but further inspection is due. Both lifters I pulled were siezed, or at least wouldn't compress even in a small vise. I measured the pushrods and they are the longer 9.62" ones.
So new lifters are in order, as well as the correct length pushrods. From reading everything the pushrods come in stock length 9.59" or +/- .060. With a total of .030" loss between what was taken off of the heads and block deck would stock length be ok or should I go with the undersized ones? Thanks again for all the help and sorry for being a bonehead.
Or in your case pick up a set of adjustable rockers. It could nab anybody. I have seen seen some say some preload needed for the lifters and some say none. I have some deck removed also and when I looked into it I decided the no preload was the right choice. As it ended up the stock length was correct.
So is your cam new? Thats what I was gathering. Perhaps all thats wrong is that you are sitting with too much preload and all you will need is the new pushrods. Other wise you may take the chance of serious wear on the cam lobes with new lifters (but you say no wear). Problems is that it's not just a walk around the block digging around them lifters. It's gotta be frustrating by now. Hope you have it nailed.
Kennewick this motor got frustrating months ago. But it's all a learning experience. I had barley ever even heard mention of the FE's before this. And if my estimated power and torque outputs are anywhere close I'll be super happy with this truck's ability to pull. It's just a bummer to have all this time and money sunk into something that you can't enjoy.
As for the problem at hand. I'm going to pull the intake today and the rest of the pushrods and lifters. I'll inspect the cam lobes for flatening and other damage. Yes the cam, and everything else, is new. I've got new lifters and push rods on order. I found a set of push rods listed at a length of 9.56", so they're just a little shorter then the stock 9.59" ones. Hopefully they'll work. I could get these ordered in faster than a set of adjustables, and I hate dealing with adjustable pushrods. If it comes to that I will, but I hope not.
How about some shims under the towers for clearance just to see if you on the right track. Also do you have the oil diverters under the towers. I forgot that and loaded up my lifters once. My guess is if you can get some clearnce your valves will seal and lifters will pump up. Be sure you don't have a bent pushrod from bottoming out that could be your knock. Your gonna get it. These motors are tough.
Well the end result, as of yesterday is that this motor is coming out and being sold for what I can get and I'm going to start looking for a 4bt to drop in.
So last weekend I got the new lifters and push rods installed and everything seemed fine. But the rear intake seal had walked on me and I hadn't noticed, so it was pouring oil out the back. I got another intake gasket set and went to work yesterday. I got everything prepped and ready. And when I pulled out the distributor I herd something go "clink". I thought that it was the oil pump drive shifting, but when I checked it was still in place. So I spent some time looking around and found that the oil gallery plug in the distributor hole had popped out. And that was it for me. I'm not even really mad or upset anymore. This has just been one of those engine builds that fights me every time I turn around. On the up side it'll give me some more time to get the body work on the truck fixed. And it gives me an excuse to get the driveshaft angles in a better position. Thanks for all the input on these motors guys, I've learned a lot about them.
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