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I have a E150 Econoline with a 302. I put the engine back together and am now in the process of adjusting the valves. I completely disassembled the heads and rebuilt them with the original valves and new valve guide seals. I have the rocker nuts tightened down all the way and yet some of the rocker arms are still loose. I did'nt remove the cam or lifters from the engine and have all the original pushrods. Everything is back in the same order as when I took it apart. Why are the rockers loose even though all of the rocker nuts are tightened down all the way?. I can't do an accurate feeler guage check with it the way it is.
Cheers
Brendan in Nelson BC
I was under the impression that there is no adjustment, the heahwork may have added some slack, but I don't see how it could add that much, your lifters may not be pumping all the way back up. Depending on age and miles, before I'd put new lifters in on the old cam, you should look to replacing the cam and lifters.
I think I have it figured out. I didn't remove the cam or lifters from the engine. The pushrods are the same and I did'nt take the rocker completely off the heads( I just swung them out of the way to get the pushsrods out. Following the directions in the Haynes manual I have marked the vibration damper at TDC and 180 and 90 degrees. When I set the valves in the order mentioned I can still compress the rod into the lifter. The neighbour next door told me that when I start the engine the oil pressure in the lifters will stiffen up the slack. I've only rebuilt a 1968 BSA 650 Lightning motor before so I have never dealt with hydraulic lifters before.
Cheers
Brendan in Nelson BC www.bcdc.ca
Yeah, the lifters pump up, they should do it rather quickly though.
We just rebuilt our's and I didn't soak the lifters, just stuck them in coated in assembly lube, there was no rattle at all during start up.