Thread: Fixing a strange engine noise and then some

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just throwing some thing out there. i setup and modified every rocker arm setup over the last 20+ years oem and the shaft stuff that cost more then some guys engines just trying to help. there not much in a afb / edlbrock that can go bad after a back fire but check for sticky step up power pistons and junk that may of back up in a air bleed .check base plate / gasket

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

just throwing some thing out there. i setup and modified every rocker arm setup over the last 20+ years oem and the shaft stuff that cost more then some guys engines just trying to help. there not much in a afb / edlbrock that can go bad after a back fire but check for sticky step up power pistons and junk that may of back up in a air bleed .check base plate / gasket

Pat - if I get to the point that I pull the heads, I'll go to at least the stud mounted rockers and have the pedestal mount part of the head forging machined off.

I found someones shaft mount rockers for SB Fords on the web - and you are right, more then I'll ever be able to afford.

That Edelbrock carb is simple though I have seen a couple that have had cracked bases/bodies for whatever reason. It comes off today and if OK, I'll install a kit. If not, I'll redo that cruddy looking $20 swap meet spare which is fine. Base gaskets are new (a new 1" phenolic spacer instead of an aluminum version was installed over the winter)

Edit:
Got the carb off. Not too bad tho some crud inside but as yet haven't seen any cracks tho it is still drying out from the gas I poured out . Did a further check on the PCV and it had some black crud, possibly carbon - hmmmm. My records show it was replaced winter 2010-2011, not this past winter like I said in an earlier post. Now been cleaned tho it did seem to work. The carb end as well as the PCV ends of the hose had gotten sloppy and may have been a vacuum leak. Fixed!! A kit is on its way and I'll go from there tho do need some carb cleaner as my old bucket of it turned to slime a few years back.

OK - got the carb done and back on - I used the Berryman carb and parts cleaner. It's a little puny compared to the old stuff, so is slow. Put the 1.7 rockers back on then went for a ride. Runs like a champ - buuuuuuttttttt, at low rpm/idle or chugging just after putting it in gear, still some rattles when the oil pressure dips just a bit. This leads me to believe that regardless of how much and how often I torque these rockers down, they will rattle. To me, sounds like I need more preload - except the only way to do that is to install shorter push rods - and that becomes a $100 or more special once I determine the length, and to do that, then I'm getting into $75 or more worth of gaskets and another XXXX dollars in a length check push rod. Additionally, it is a royal pain to pull the heads on that car with the engine setback. Sooooo with that babble, Crane makes this pedestal mount rocker arm and guide conversion kit - Crane Cams 36655-16 - Crane Rocker Arm Guideplate Conversion Kits - Overview - SummitRacing.com - yeah, I know it's a band aid and yeah, I need different rockers but there's another problem locally - lack of a decent automotive machine shop(that is someone you can actually discuss what is wanted). One question though - they say to use with Crane rockers. Is that just their way of saying that they "prefer" you to use Crane parts - the way I see it - a 3/8 stud rocker is just like someone else's. Plus I think I have located a new set of Harland Sharp Originals locally and reasonably priced.

This engine is driving me batty, to say the least -