Frustrated!!

[89 vert]

Well, last week I was leaving a car show, the motor started banging, almost like an aluminum bat was banging on the valve cover. I towed it home. I removed the top, thinking I floated a lifter or bent a push rod maybe. I found a slightly bent push rod, so i replaced all of them including all new lifters. I changed the oil as well and as I loosened the drain, a half cup of anti freeze came out!! So I filled it up and decided to crank it up. It was banging just as bad as it did before. So after 3 long nights of hell, it went on the trailer and went to Rodehavers tonite. I'm praying its not as bad as I'm thinking. Good luck Tim!

[92306gt]

sucks...good luck

[Shorty429]

sounds pretty scary to me. good luck man

[1Badbird]

Good luck! Hope it's not that bad.

[gmkillr]

Did you set-up your rockers & valvetrain?

WHat is the process you followed?

[RUTHLESS]

Sorry but its engine rebuild time because I can only think of one way for a push rod to get bent. Yep the piston and valve tired to share the same space at the same time. Now this can be cause a few different ways but the out come is never good.

[Martin0660]

I can only think of one way for a push rod to get bent.

While it doesent account for the coolant in the oil, there are LOTS of ways for a pushrod to get bent. I've seen more bent based on geometry than anything else. The noise doesnt help either ;)

[RUTHLESS]

True true. I guess we would need to know how bent the push rods were before jumping to conclusions. (visual or rolled on a piece of glass) I have heard of new engines eat push rods because they were not the correct length because the heads were milled down so far or older engines that were mechanicly over reved the engine. Shifting for 3rd and going back to 1st. OUCH

[89 vert]

Well, Tim called today,(the 4th of July) and he was working on it this morning. It fired right up for him with no banging! He thinks the lifters were not pumped up all the way with oil. He will be doing a compression test monday, cause he thimks the head gasket could be bad. As far as the push rods go, I did the mirror test and 2 of them wobbled. I did over rev the car a few times due to the damn floor mat gettin wedged in the gas pedal(they are now in the garbage) so well see what happens this week.

[Silverhatch]

Was up there at his shop this morning. I didn't hear anything that sounded bad when he was moving it. If its any consoling, the car looks great!

[PaxtonShelby]

I hope everything turns out ok. I'm just glad to see that you still have the car!!!! Keep us posted.

[wick]

While it doesent account for the coolant in the oil, there are LOTS of ways for a pushrod to get bent. I've seen more bent based on geometry than anything else. The noise doesnt help either ;)

It isnt like the 4 cylinders. When you pull the intake, coolant gets in the oil. A good bit of it too. There are ways to minimize it but you always get some. Jacking the rear of the car up can cut down on the ammount.

[89 vert]

Thanks guys for your input. When I took off the rear heater hoses, anti freeze leaked straight into the head, maybe a half cup or so. Im glad it sounded good this morning at Tims, the banging was so loud all I could do was think the worst, so off it went to Tims.

[89 vert]

Talked to Tim today and he found the head gasket on the drivers side is bad. Could have been worse.

[89 vert]

Well, just a little update. Tim got the drivers head off and of course the piston was busted and it tore up the cylinder wall. I found a stock 88 motor that I am picking up this Saturday. Wish I could do a stroker but money is tight, so this will hopefully work. My car had junk cast pistons.

[92306gt]

glad to hear you figured it out. tim will have her fixed up in a jiffy

[scott5]

sorry to hear about the motor but glad to see you got it figured out so quickly

[turbo'dnotch]

:)I have a 347 stroker shortblock fresh from the shop, with an ATI dampner and flywheel for 2200.00. Just an idea:)

[blaze00]

:)I have a 347 stroker shortblock fresh from the shop, with an ATI dampner and flywheel for 2200.00. Just an idea:)

yeah get this

[turbo'dnotch]

Its a stock block,steel crank,forged rods and KB pistons with a single moly ring. All machine work and assembly done by Canton automotvie machine service, A guy named Roger Decker. In fact the engine is so fresh, I have not picked it up yet,lol.