Doug, i agree with lack of efficient oiling to the pushrod cups woith the dove rockers, i had 4 failures along those lines, Ted grinds angled groove in the rocker shafts to ensure oil flow in arms.


  AussieBill            YYYY    Forever Y Block     YYYY

 Down Under, Australia

I have had a set of Dove 1.6 roller tip rocker arms for 15 years with no problems. BUT I made one critical change to them.  They were factory drilled for oil to the push rod ball and valve roller but there was no provision to get oil to these holes.  I made a little tool to chuck in a drill press and cut a shallow groove from one hole to the other in the bore.  The groove goes under the oil hole in the shaft.  This allows sufficient oil to flow from the rocker shaft to the holes lubing the whole valve train. Stock lifters have such a groove.  I have heard that Dove rockers can bind on the shafts so be sure that the rockers on the shaft will turn freely.  I  pour a half pint of oil over each rocker assy before starting for the first time.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Thanks Ted,

Based on the description of the collateral damage, pulling the engine out for a complete disassembly sounds prudent.  Once the heads are off the engine, then the intake and exhaust ports can be filled with solvent and any leakage past the seats can be observed. If that checks out, then the valve springs can be removed at which point the straightness of the valve stems can be verified.  You can also look at the piston tops for witness marks where the valves may have contacted the pistons but the intake valve can also hit the side of the cylinder at the top of the block which may not leave any marks.

If you have any pushrods rubbing within the pushrod holes in the heads, then that will force a premature camshaft/lifter failure.  Just look at the pushrods for any wear marks where they might have been rubbing.

Here is the link to a past thread showing the lifter tool used to replace the lifters through the cam tunnel hole.  Be sure to also look at the 2^nd page of this particular thread.
http://forums.y-blocksforever.com/FindPost29355.aspx 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I always disconnrect the bellhousing from the engine now.  Used to do it the other way, and getting the trans connected to the engine was a pain, the throwout bearing kept getting out of place or off the fork.  With the trans already bolted to the bellhousing, the bearing is secure and not an issue.  Also by parting them at the bellhousing/engine connection, the engine doesn't have to be pulled as far forward to separate them.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I re-visited the '57 Ford Car and Thunderbird Shop Manual.  Part I, Chapter 3, Section 2 titled 'Engine Removal and Installation' has a thorough rundown (checklist) for pulling the engine without the transmission.  Their procedure calls for disconnecting the transmission from the bellhousing, NOT the bellhousing from the engine block.
Perhaps there's something in putting the engine back in that I'm not thinking about.  My experience has only been with pulling the engine and transmission together and putting them back in the same way.I don't want to give bad advice.  How about some other opinions on the best way to disconnect the engine and transmission for removing the engine only from those of you who have done it that way.


NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I got a call into John. I do not think its the cam or the lifters.   I did read the list of poo bahs on lifter failure.  Also the Dove rockers.  Thinking about  Dove rockers, if some rockers are a different ratio how would that affect this problems and if so how do you measure the rocker ratio

There was just a discussion here on Dove rockers, you might run a search. I don't remember it being a good report.

I just ordered a new cam from Mummert (one lobe gone after several years and low miles), and it came in a Clay Smith box. He uses a different lifter. Ted Eaton has an article on lifter failure, and sitting under pressure was one of the causes. I think its on his site at Eaton Balancing, should be worth a read.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Engine is coming out for sure. Collateral damage is four lifters and the cam.  Clay Smith Cam and lifters. 1.6 dove rockers.  Photos on the way may be someone can tell what happened, I think it just sat too long, oil 50 weight Valvoline Racing and zdp or what ever was added. This was all new stuff, however the engine was sitting for a long time, part of that time the rockers where in place. I am giving Comp Cams a call in the morning the advert for their lifters sounded good, maybe they have a cam to go with it. 

This a link to the lifting device I think Charlie has in mind. And fwiw, I'm in the process of changing a cam, and the engine is just ready to pull. I wouldn't even attempt this in the car..

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/kti-63423/overview/

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ