302 valve adjustment question.

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Jun 23, 2020 | 10:31 PM

#31

baddad457

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From: south louisiana

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecumsecumguy

Thanks...it surprises me that the studs would back out given the force that was needed to press that one stud down .025 - it literally took a medium sledge hammer and a large piece of brass with a number of very solid hits to move it. Despite my best efforts at hitting straight the very top of the stud bent a bit but did not appear to affect the alignment of the rest of the stud.

I guess I'll install the engine and fire it up and listen for the clams. It will be a pain in the butt to deal with it after installation but I don't see any realistic options right now. I'll cross the fingers and hope for the best.

Thanks for the responses.

You're forgetting there's two forces trying to work the studs out of their holes. The springs on one side and the camshaft pushing up on the other end of the rocker arms while the engine's running. The stiffer the springs and the more aggressive the cam profile is, the more force is working here to lift the studs.

Jun 27, 2020 | 12:11 PM

#32

ecumsecumguy

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A machinist buddy if mine who dabbles in 302s is willing to help me install threaded studs but he suggested i first consider drilling and pinning them. However before doing this each each rocker stud would need to be set at the correct height. Does anyone have any idea where I could get this measurement? - from the machined mounting boss on the head to the bottom of the nut on the stud when it is torqued down to 20 ft/lb. I assume this is where would would measure it from. Any thoughts appreciated.

Jun 27, 2020 | 04:11 PM

#33

DirtyFerd

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From: C-town,MD

Okay. You still never verified whether the machine shop installed new valves or reused the old ones. There were several different valve stem lengths in the late 60s and70s. Something you'll learn about fords is that there were lots of different head designs. Also, did they install new hardened exhaust seats? This could also maybe lower the tip of the valve

Jun 27, 2020 | 04:20 PM

#34

DirtyFerd

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From: C-town,MD

Also, according to the book i have it says the height of the stud should be 1 3/4" . You should also put a straight edge on the tops of all the studs to see if they are all the same heights and do the same for your valves

Jun 30, 2020 | 09:39 AM

#35

ecumsecumguy

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Thanks..appreciate the response. The machine shop put in all new valves as well as seats and guides when they assembled the heads. I can't see what version the heads are, apparently the number is under the head and I'd have to pull the head to see it. I know they are original 1974 E300 302 heads however as I scrapped the camper van it came from and it was bone stock.

I guess I should have done more research before I undertook this I didn't think it would be this complex. I see in the Tom Monroe book that valve stem caps were also used in the rail type rocker arms like I have. I don't have these and the book only mentions them in a picture. Maybe they would help as an option.

I'm going to have a guy that builds and races short track Ford engined cars to come over and have a look before I do anything. He does have heads with threaded studs available if really needed.

Further down the rabbit hole....