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Re: [oletrucks] re: My head, oh my aching head

To: <oletrucks-digest@autox.team.net>
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] re: My head, oh my aching head
From: "Rob J." <rjjmsj@earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 19:11:06 -0800
Could it be the valve lash?  Did you check it?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Hargreaves James P IHCO" <HargreavesJP@concord.navy.mil>
To: <oletrucks-digest@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 1:14 PM
Subject: [oletrucks] re: My head, oh my aching head


> My bet is on valve timing.  Check the cam gear.  I'll bet it skipped a
> tooth.  One tooth off is enough to let the engine still run, but give all
> the other symptoms that you describe.  It's a nasty job, and may involve
> dropping the oil pan. (My 235 used to, until I modified it.)
>
> If you need to change the timing gear, I recommend using an aluminum gear
> vice the fiber.  It is a little more noisy, but almost bulletproof.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
> Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 06:53:13 -0600
> From: "Michael Lubitz" <mlrba@texas.net>
> Subject: [oletrucks] My head, oh my aching head
>
> Guys,
>
> I need help.  A while back I was having a problem with hard starting, etc.
> with the 216 in the '46.  It was diagnosed by the group as many things:
> carburetor icing, low compression, etc.  So I rebuilt the carb, and the
fuel
> pump, and fixed the heat riser.  No luck.
>
> Checked compression: Dry:  98, 90, 95, 45, 95, 90.  Uh oh, number 4 is
real
> low.  So we did a wet test on number 4 and the compression did not change.
> O.K., need to do a valve job.  When we took the head off, it was obvious
> that
> the exhaust for number 4 was burned - badly burned.
>
> Now I asked you guys again about hardened seats, valve guides, doing all
of
> the valves or just doing number 4, etc.  Again, good advice - go the whole
> way.
>
> I did.  $400 worth of new valves, seats, guides, lapping, surfacing, etc.
> The
> head looked beautiful.  We then put it all back together with new paint
and
> cleaning everything in sight and torqueing the head bolts to 85 pounds and
> you
> name it, we did it.  Clean and nice.
>
> We went to start the beast yesterday and Buddy (the truck's name) had the
> same
> problem as we had at first - hard starting and he would not stay running.
> Good fuel, good spark, adjusted the valves loose (Did the preliminary
valve
> adjustment with the deaf man from across the street who used to work on
old
> Chevies.  He is probably 70 now.  It was fun!)
>
> So we checked compression again.  Dry: 50, 75, 55, 50, 50, 55.  Yikes.
> Somewhat depressed, we did a wet test on number 4 and it did not change a
> bit.
>
> So, now it gets to be Sunday night.  We called our truck club's resident
> expert.  (He knows engines, he just knows engines.)  No real answers.
> Checked
> my doubts: Surface rust on the cylinder walls - no problem.  Cleaning the
> tops
> of the pistons with a wire brush and possibly scarring the cylinder
walls -
> no
> problem (of course, the wet test would have showed that.)  Valves set
loose
> -
> no problem.
>
> The only thing that we can think of is that the valve job is bad.  I asked
> the
> guys who did the work when they were doing the valve job about being sure
> that
> their work is done correctly.  They said that they check each of the
valves
> by
> pulling a vacuum on the intake port (I don't know the word here, but it's
> the
> about 1 1./2" round hole that connects to the manifold) and also by
pulling
> a
> vacuum on the exhaust port.  And again, I do not know the word for the
> rectangular hole that the exhaust exits to the exhaust manifold.)
>
> HELP.  Any thoughts from you guys?  Know that I am sad but up to the
> challenge.  Just want to do things right and get my Buddy back.  I miss
him
> and feel when he is hurting.
>
> Thanks to all of you for the help in the past and for help now.  This is
the
> great group of guys (or of mostly guys).
>
> Michael Lubitz
> 1946 Chevy 3/4 ton, stock
> 1948 Chevrolet 3100, hot rod
> Austin, Texas
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
>
> James P. Hargreaves
> '35 International C-1
> '57 Cadillac Sedan deVille
> '62 Chevrolet C-10 panel
> '64 Chevelle SS
> '70 Mercury Montego
> "A key ring is a handy little gadget that allows you to lose all your keys
> at once."
> --Unknown
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959

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