Quote:
Originally Posted by 78w72
FYI- Rebuilt heads do not need "breaking in", there are no parts that need mated together like cam/lifters or rings or bearings.
Can you clarify the timeline of when you installed the new Johnson lifters? Based on what you've posted and lost deep in the paragraphs, it looks like you installed the new lifters on the old "worn out" 886 cam, hopefully you broke them into the cam properly... but more importantly you then mention installing the new 041 cam but no mention of new lifters, did you reuse the lifters you installed on the 886 Cam?
Are you adjusting each rocker arm or just cranking the nut to 20lb/ft? Did you check the geometry or wear pattern on the valves? With the rebuilt heads and other new valve train parts, the factory 20/lb/ft may not be what's needed.
Zinc in oil is a combo of zinc/phosphorus, called ZDDP, it is an anti-wear additive along with many other additives that are only in engine oil, not ATF, & they are VERY important for high wear areas like cam/lifters, even a few minutes without those additives in the oil, will cause major wear between those surfaces... 30 minutes without any engine oil would be terrible for cam/lifter surfaces & other internals... surprised nobody else mentions that. Thats great you think the bearings were OK visibly, did you measure the clearances of the cam, rod, crank bearings? or just look at them?
Still waiting for a video of the engine noises so we can actually hear what's going on.
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Mikes reply:
The Heads need testing to see what improvements they make.
In short, over the first 4 years we replaced the oil pump first, Splash shields under the valve covers next, rebuilt the Carbs. , bought new Copper tires, already came with the Timing chain and Gears. As we tested at high speeds, for a stock unknown Engine, we had to replace a few of the Push Rods over that time and we discovered as we serviced other problems concurrently, that a nut was cracked on one of the Rocker arm studs, between cyl. # 1-3 and that the cam, in some places, on the lobes, was worn beyond recognition. The Cam as well was wiped out. How I obtained these high speeds is beyond me. These Pontiac Engines must be very tough.
After the first four years, going by memory, I am not looking back either, we installed the "041" Cam along with the Johnson Lifters, as a new set to mate them together. Butler Performance had us change the screw in studs to a beefier HD 7/16" version with the new nuts and a washer to lash the Rocker arms. They gave us a procedure to follow and we followed it too the letter. At that time, we also installed HD push rods, but we did not degree in the Cam until recently.
We drove and tested and tuned and made many repairs along the way, we went 7000 miles approx. when we went over the root that damaged the Trans. The Vehicle sat for two years or more and we repaired the Trans in that time frame. Then we bought a more adjustable Timing Gear that we did not need, installed that and advanced the Cam and then put it back to zero advance. Then we bought the degree wheel and ended up trying different settings, until we reached the conclusion that no advance is best for this mostly stock Engine. That brings us to today's new issues. This is not the same Motor it was ten years ago.
Since we did not install Roller type Rockers, we used the Push Rods that Butler sent for the project, there would "not" be a problem causing us to measure the push rods with the tool for that.
We added ZDDP on each oil change and I use Lucas oil treatment in both my Vehicles, Van as well. When we installed the "041" Cam we used MOLY Lube on the Lobes and Cam Bearings. I HOPE THIS BRINGS YOU UP TO DATE.
You ask:
Thats great you think the bearings were OK visibly, did you measure the clearances of the Cam, Rod, Crank bearings? or just look at them?
We saw that the Cam Bearings had the outer surface material and deduced that they could be used again and so we did, The Cam however was not.
Yes, we measured the clearances of the Cam, Rod, Crank bearings, the info. is posted in this Thread, look at the attachment area please.
I am not talking about "Amsoil VS ATF" and I wish you would drop the query over it.
KEEP IN MIND, I NEVER TOLD PEOPLE TO RUN THEIR MOTORS WITH ATF, ONLY THAT A WISE OLD TRANSMISSION MECHANIC, RAN HIS OWN PERSONAL VEHICLE WITH ATF AND GOT 300,000 MILES, WITH REGULAR FLUID CHANGES. I DO NOT ENDORCE WHAT HE DID. FOR ALL I KNOW OTHERS MAY HAVE SEEN THOSE MILES SIMPLY CHANGING THEIR OIL EVERY 3000 MILES?
Even if people use Deisel fluid, mixed with Trans. fluid to flush an Engine, is that written in any Service Manual? I am curious, I have not seen it in my research, however, I have listened to other Mechanics that use it. Marvel Mystery oil cleans the top of pistons, cleans Carbs. when mixed in the gas, etc... all from other people, BLA, BLA, BLA ...
You said this:
"Zinc in oil is a combo of zinc/phosphorus, called ZDDP, it is an anti-wear additive along with many other additives that are only in engine oil, not ATF, & they are VERY important for high wear areas like cam/lifters, even a few minutes without those additives in the oil, will cause major wear between those surfaces... 30 minutes without any engine oil would be terrible for cam/lifter surfaces & other internals... surprised nobody else mentions that. Thats great you think the bearings were OK visibly, did you measure the clearances of the cam, rod, crank bearings? or just look at them?"
Mikes reply:
Unless you do the test like the Trans. Mechanic, that proved his milage to himself, how could you know if it works or not. I say try it or prove it won't work on your own Vehicle, otherwise this is a mute argument, agree to disagree please, nobody cares, the topic is worn out, let's move on...WE ALL UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT.
We have the Oil pan removed and we will be taking pictures of the lower end today while we inspect the Windage Tray and inner dip stick tube for looseness. Meanwhile the parts are on their way like the Flexplate and hardware associated with it.
You said:
Still waiting for a video of the engine noises so we can actually hear what's going on.
Mikes reply:
Soon, but I am praying the noise is gone by then, after I install these new parts, OfCourse! If the noise is gone, I will still post a sound audio clip for the forum. Mike out.