[bren566]

I'm so frustrated right now I'm about ready to give up. Been trying for the last two weeks to get the TA ready for Norwalk. We dropped the new rebuild in 2 weeks ago. Fired right up and ran for 3 minutes before it died due to a fuel problem. After much searching, we figured out the machine shop that had assembled the engine had used too long of a bolt to hold the fuel pump eccentric on causing it to loosenand break. Tore down the front of engine and replaced the eccentric and bolt. Ran it again to break in the cam. Noticed that the drain plug and valleypan were leaking. The machine shop had forgotten to put a gasket on the oil drain plug and had used no sealer or washers on the vallypan bolts. By this time I'm beginning to be worried about what else they did wrong. They've done pontiacs for me before with no problems. I took the car to get the exhaust done which was supposed to take 2 days. 5 days later, the car is ready. I drive the car home and notice that I hear a lifter noise. No biggie I think, just need to re adjust the valves. Started the car up this morning to pull it out of the garage and it's now backfiring through the carb. I'm hoping that one of the rockers just came loose, but the way my luck is running I fear the worst. I didn't trust myself to put it together on my own, but I don't think I could have done any worse than the shop that assembled it. Sorry, I just needed to vent!

[Scarebird]

Time to take it back and make them fix it.

[Garage Goat]

I hate thrashing on something and finding out it was messed up by someone else. I would call them up and see what they have to say about all of this. It's like you said what else is wrong??I would be waiting for the preverbial other shoe to drop.

[geeteeohguy]

I had a 389 done years ago and the machine shop left out the oil gallery plugs behind the timing chain, and worse, the one behind the core plug at #8 cylinder. Had to pull the front cover, the trans, the flywheel, etc. My symptom was lifter bleed down on the right bank. Never again!

[uforacing]

Some years ago I was helping a young man build his first Pontiac. He brought me the parts from the Machine shop. No inner oil plug and the heads had freeze plugs in the front outlets.....

[TEMPERMAN67]

Hey Bren it sounds like your having a tough time, but after reading your symptoms you may want to check your rockers find out which ones are the most loose then pull your coil wire so engine does'nt crank then watch your pushrod and rocker might have a lobe worn off on your cam , the only reason I say this is because I've been there and done that not any fun. But I just took the cam out replaced the cam and lifters changed the oil 2 or 3times after break in motor still in my sons car and runs great this was about 7 years ago, not saying it was the correct thing to do but sometimes you do the best you can with what you have, Good Luck ,John

[Lloyd-TX]

Backfiring through the carburetor usually means a tight intake valve adjustment, a valve sticking in it's guide, or worse yet - a cam lobe going flat.

For your sake, I hope it's choice #!.

What a mess!

I feel your pain. Several years back when I had the 455HO built for my Formula - it had MUCHO issues. Loose cam retainer plate bolts, incorrect cam timing, pushrods were WAY too short, etc.

Thank goodness I checked everything before installing the engine!

[bren566]

I'm feelin alot better today. Tore the valve covers off after work today and found that one of the rocker nuts had worked loose even though it was a locknut style. Adjusted it up and the noise and backfiring went away till it started to come loose again. A set of polylocks are going on tomorrow night!

[Stuckinda60s]

If you mean the Chevy lock-nuts, they're a one time use item. You also need to use a 3/8" washer under them, between the nut and ball.

[Steve Barcak]

Always use poly locks. You also normally need to have at least one harded washer underneath each one.
sorry for your troubles. It is like the old saying that has a lof of truth to it. "If you want something done right do it yourself". Hopefully, you did not damage your cam.
Try to learn about your engine as much as you can. You will be better for it, if you do as much yourslef as you can.
Best to you and have fun this weekend.

[Stuckinda60s]

Steve:

Did you ever check for those '62 parts?

[bren566]

Stuckinda60s and Steve, I'm not sure I'm understanding correctly. Do I need to use a washer underneath just the polylocks or should there be one if the chevy locknuts are used? Right now with the chevy nuts, there are no washers under any of them, just the ball.

[Stuckinda60s]

If you look at the Pontiac nuts, you'll notice an unthreaded portion at the bottom. That fits over the stud and locks the adjustment. Because the Chevy nut has no unthreaded area, it contacts the stud before it has gotten the proper adjustment. Choose a washer to clear the flare on the stud and allow proper adjustment.

I disagree that the poly locks need the washers, I haven't run into any that did. It's easy enough to check, look and make sure they have the relief at the bottom, if they do then they don't need it.

I know where Steve's coming from, though, shorter locks may need washers to give you enough threads at the tops for the locks. I've never had a problem with those actually made for Pontiacs.

Using washers on the poly locks may get you into a situation because the stock studs may end up with too few threads holding the rocker on and be prone to pulling out.

[bren566]

ok, I think I'm understanding it now. Thanks for your help!

[goatman65]

I ran Poly locks on my stock 3/8 bottle-neck studs for 25 yrs.They were for Pontiacs but i don't remember the brand.I think they were Crane.

[SD421]

Originally Posted by geeteeohguy

I had a 389 done years ago and the machine shop left out the oil gallery plugs behind the timing chain, and worse, the one behind the core plug at #8 cylinder. Had to pull the front cover, the trans, the flywheel, etc. My symptom was lifter bleed down on the right bank. Never again!

Jeff,
Which Machine Shop?
Not Stirtz Machine in Oakland?
Don

[geeteeohguy]

No, Don, not Stirtz in Oakland. This was in 1981, a shop out in Concord, now defunct. No worries!!!