Thread: Harmonic balancer on 454 has 4 timing marks.....

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Alright so another update...sort of.

Pulled valve covers and here's what I found:
Good amount of rust on right bank(2-4-6-8). Most around the eight region(cylinder with lowest compression).
Heads had the following info stamped in different places: Merlin / W / NH / 92 / L23 / 1-043
Does have roller rockers(bronze in color, no name I could find).
The pushrod guides have comp cams 4806 stamped on them.
I could see below the intake though the head. There is not roller lifters, so hopefully no roller cam.

I couldn't really perform the leakdown, my generator only got the air compressor to 25 PSI. Then the circuit breaker would blow. I tried it numerous times, but kept doing the same thing. Obviously there isn't electric close to the boat. I went ahead and put 25 into the #1 since I had the tester screw in and #1 TDC. It took the 25 PSI slowly leaked down, but I couldn't feel or hear it coming out anywhere.

I wanted to get pics, but I sat my phone down on a wet surface. The phones camera lens fogged and the pics were bad.

I figure something out on the generator and get back to it tomorrow hopefully.

What do you make of this. There was some super white substance on inside each head. Mostly on top of the rocker studs and inside of valve cover. The oil is fine, the water in the block was fine(remember I pulled apart the front of motor. I could see down in the oil pan and obviously in the water jackets). The stuff was just in the heads, it doesnt look like milky oil, more like some type of assembly lube.

From some other websites I found. It said those heads are intended for marine use only.

Also what you make of the rust?

well that 345 head has been used in boats. i had two sets some that were reworked for off shore but to say it a marine head only? i can buy that head under part number 3063b . that head has a 2.300 valve if the bottom end has a stock piston them the valves could of hit the pistons .white stuff ? hard to say with out seeing it could be lubeaplate ?

Almost looks and feels like crisco.

but to say it a marine head only?

I should say it says intended for Marine.

Originally Posted by repoman3809

Almost looks and feels like crisco.

ran over a sperm whale ?

Almost looks and feels like crisco.

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

ran over a sperm whale ?

You know I did get crazy with this chick one night. Maybe it's......J/K!

Originally Posted by repoman3809

You know I did get crazy with this chick one night. Maybe it's......J/K!

ok well how did it get under....well for get it... truly more then i want to know

Originally Posted by repoman3809

Almost looks and feels like crisco.


I should say it says intended for Marine.

no not at all there made were you would use a big cc iron head .they are to big for your marine use if you just have a 030 454 there not to big for a 540 in street use or marine use. if you want a iron head the heads may come with inconel ex valves that would put it in to a marine use or a Nos .. blower or turbo use water or land. there nothing done to the iron head it self to make it only marine that i know of .but there are alum heads that are built for marine use and are coated for salt water . i know of custom merlins in 345 built heads for off shore racing and have custom valves sizes.i just threw out a box of inconel valve out for them. i can not talk about them on a open forum

Originally Posted by repoman3809

What do you make of this. There was some super white substance on inside each head. Mostly on top of the rocker studs and inside of valve cover. The oil is fine, the water in the block was fine(remember I pulled apart the front of motor. I could see down in the oil pan and obviously in the water jackets). The stuff was just in the heads, it doesnt look like milky oil, more like some type of assembly lube.

Also what you make of the rust?

The above mentioned was bothering me. I didnt have much time, so I just wanted to do a few more checks on this today. I checked everything....exhaust tips(black), dipstick(clean oil), pan, though bottom of timing chain cover(clean oil), oil filter(clean oil), water jackets(clean water [remember boat...water pulled n thur outdrive, blown out exhaust]).

But the inside of valve covers is caked in this white crap. Reminds of white hand cleaner or crisco, with maybe a touch of brown tint. It's mainly sticking to the top/inside of the valve cover(more on right bank). Though some on the top of the rockers and some laying in the low points of the head(low stuff is milky). Plus a decent amount of rust all over. The rust is on the head and springs. More on the rear sides of head(6&8-5&7). But the most on the right bank, especially 5-7.

Which reminded me, the exhaust coming out this bank never seemed as strong as the opposite side. The exhaust tips have black rubber flappers to keep the water from coming back in. The exhaust tips sit above the waterline, but under the boats swim platform. The flapper on the left side bank(2-4-6-8) actually hits and marks the above swim platform. The right side(1-3-5-7) doesnt(or not much). This also follows the compression readings(2-4-6-8 reads higher).

I wonder if for whatever reason, I'm getting some serious condensation issues. The right side valve cover has a breather filter, where as the left cover is sent back to air filter. That might explain the rust and white stuff. If so, I wander if the rust is effecting the valves ability to seat.

I sprayed the valves, springs and heads with some lube oil. I tried to get as much of the rust out as I could. We'll see if the helps future tests....