any body still awake advice needed asap

[Mike B.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

Did you ever pin down the source of the overheating? My guess is an air bubble. As suggested filling through the removed thermostat housing is a good way to lessen the likelihood. Also on the first start up on a bone dry engine from a rebuild it is helpful if you know exactly how much coolant was added vs. the factory spec to suspect an air bubble before it becomes a problem. Add the antifreeze and water from a measured container.

Been there, done that, plus a lot of other "OH S**T!" moments.

[Bill S.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

thanks for all the support. what makes it wracking is the cost involved and cost risk. generally you make have a few grand in a motor. if it goes bad you can get another. with a date coded L72 it is a different game. some answers to questions. i set the lash to factory spec after normalizing the engine. the over heat was due to not filling at thermostat. spraying water on radiator drops temp 10-15 degrees. the valves were actually right on. the fire was forgeting to put the frt SP cover screw in. the carb was the real issue. bought a ebay carb all set up, bull .... bent acc pump arm, floats way off etc. one word of wisdom i can offer KNOW YOUR CARB! she now stays cool idles at 850 likes 6 degrees BTC and purrs nice. i cannot hear the solid lifters like i thought i would but with GM side pipes and 20 min at 1700 rpm in a shop i am lucky i still can hear. bill

[Karl L.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

Bill,
I've been reading these Threads and have a question:
You adjusted your lifters as you would Hydraulic lifters. 1/2 turn. You said you did 1/4 turn. Are your lifters a cross between solid/Hydraulic Lifters?
In your last Thread you referred to them as being Solid Lifters. Aren't true solids adjusted with feeler gauges any more?
Karl.

[KEN BUTCHER]

Terry

Terry, I don't exactly know what happened because I followed the proper proceedure and then put the valve covers on and I guess they were too tight. It would crank over but had no compression. That's why I took it appart to check for lifter and camshaft wear, but no damage was done.
Thanks for the interest. Ken.

[Bill S.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

i never posted that but saw it. i set them by bringing engine up to temp and setting them to spec. i found the builder was dead on in setting them.i'll take this set up over setting hyraulics any day far less messy and anoying.

[Terry F.]

Re: Terry

With a fresh engine and no oil in the lifters, it is hard to judge when the play in the push rod is zero. Feeling for the play to end is difficult when doing it on fresh assembly unless you do it all the time and are familiar with it. Terry

[Karl L.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

Bill,
I reread the responces and it was Ken Butcher who responded to your Thread.
Karl.

[Don Y.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

I installed many small block camshafts with hydraulic lifters by setting the lash on the engine stand. I would assemble the valve train and set the cam on the base circle for the lobe to be adjusted, similar to how you would run the valves for a solid lifter cam. While rotating the pushrod between my fingertips you could absolutely "feel" when the lash went from 0 to preload. At that point I would take the rocker nut exactly 1 additional turn down. I assembled dozens of engines that way. I bolted the covers on, painted them and off they went. I never had to pull a valve cover off for a noise or a tight lifter. It worked for me.
Don Yesacavage

[Terry F.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

There seems to be some variation in the manuals regarding how far to tighten the rocker arm nut. I have heard 1/4 to 1 turn. What is correct?? Terry

[Chris Patrick]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

Some of it involves who makes the lifter.

[Terry F.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

Do you have any opinion on lifter design or manufacture with regarding hydraulic lifters? Thanks, TErry

[Frank C.]

Re: any body still awake advice needed asap

that's what my old memory told me. IIRC some brands of hyd lifters had different specs for adjustments. I presume all the info from GM referred to their lifters..Good Luck Frank