D

davewillb

Member
Hi,

I've just got my 3.5V8 back together again after an unexpected rebuild - I thought the head gasket was gone, started to do that and found a liner had slipped.

Fortunately (?) I had another engine but on examination this was in worse state than the original - but the block was ok so (and this was my first time) I rebuild the original engine with the spare block, replaced the shells, fitted a new cam, lifters, timing gear and chain, composite gaskets, checked and cleaned oil pump etc. Parts came from Real Steel.

After a bit of messing about, including an ignition amp that died it, now runs nicely, pulls like a train BUT it has a top end rattle which is barely audible when cold but develops as it warms up - oil pressure is ok (light only no gauge) and it runs quite cool (cooler than it did before the rebuild). I'm thinking the problem is cam follower lifter but would be grateful for comments - there is a short clip here 3.5V8 new cam and followers - YouTube

Its running on 10W30 running in oil as it only done about 50 miles.

Thanks for any comments suggestions.
Dave
 
Dr_evil said:
take it you broke in the cam properly etc
Click to expand...

I did my best - at first start it was running poorly due to 2 crossed over ign leads and a missing exhaust gasket, I fixed that and started it again ran for about 5 mins at 2K rev but then has to stop again due to a water leak - then it wouldn't start whatever I did, thought it was flooded but turned out to be no spark at all and the ignition module had failed, I swapped that and she started straight away and ran sweetly - I did about another 10 mins at 2k and then took it for a short drive.
 
Guess I'm going to find out soon but I've had enough of it for now - it is an efi. The noise sounds like its from the front on the drivers side so I'm hoping I can get the rocker cover off for a look without too much greif but whatever I find the efi gubbins will have to come off again and the valley gasket - I'm hoping its a faulty lifter.

Am I right in thinking that they rattle because they fail to pump up?

Dave
 
can you ID which cylinder it is before you strip it, some folk use a listing tube (hose pipe)or metal bar
There may be colour difference on your plug

it dose sound like a follower from the vid
An older engine Id try thicker oil but just after a re build you want it right
 
before you put the cam followers in did you submerse them in oil before you put them in the block as this realy help them to ''bleed'' as such when the oil pressure is built up and they become very quite quite quickly! if you are going to have the inlet manifold back off just take them all out and soak them all in loads of clean engine oil and leave them for a good day or two! also check the hydraulic insert inside the follower,if its stiff and very hard to push down,its fine,if its weak and not stiff atall,its bollox'ed!

hope this helps!
 
Spunka said:
can you ID which cylinder it is before you strip it, some folk use a listing tube (hose pipe)or metal bar
There may be colour difference on your plug

it dose sound like a follower from the vid
An older engine Id try thicker oil but just after a re build you want it right
Click to expand...

I'm fairly confident that its No 2, right at the front on the drivers side - so would the smart money be on ordering a spare lifter and a valley gasket and getting right in there, or be a bit more subtle and get the rocker cover off and start the engine with the rocker off - can I diagnosis from there .... suppose I can ceck nothing has fallen off the rocker arms:)

Dave
 
tom1disco.300 said:
before you put the cam followers in did you submerse them in oil before you put them in the block as this realy help them to ''bleed'' as such when the oil pressure is built up and they become very quite quite quickly! if you are going to have the inlet manifold back off just take them all out and soak them all in loads of clean engine oil and leave them for a good day or two! also check the hydraulic insert inside the follower,if its stiff and very hard to push down,its fine,if its weak and not stiff atall,its bollox'ed!

hope this helps!
Click to expand...

Hi Thanks for this - no I didn't soak them, there seemed to be conflicting views and in the end I just didn't but having read some more I suspect its prob only if you need to set the pretention on a special cam you don't soak them. Ok on what constitutes bolloxed when it comes to lifters - the old classic you can't buy experience - you just hope you can find someone who will share like you just did - cheers.

Dave
 
Ive never built a v8 engine up but all other engines with hydraulic followers i have primed (as tom said) and built up with plenty of oil, and allways turned over to get oil light out before connecting the ellectic
 
3.5 with a loose liner is a rare thing in my experience , only seen it when its had new liners fitted badly either no interference or barreled bore ,poor hyd lifters would be usual problem, though badly fitted pistons can cause similar as engine heats up
 
Spunka said:
Ive never built a v8 engine up but all other engines with hydraulic followers i have primed (as tom said) and built up with plenty of oil, and allways turned over to get oil light out before connecting the ellectic
Click to expand...

Ok, I did pack the pump with Vaseline and turned the engine over with the king lead out of the coil until the oil pressure light went out - I think this might have been what did for the ignition module by the way, when I was turning it over there was a massive spark jumping from the coil to a nearby brake pipe, just after that the module went south ... and only 6 months old as well!

Dave
 
jamesmartin said:
3.5 with a loose liner is a rare thing in my experience , only seen it when its had new liners fitted badly either no interference or barreled bore ,poor hyd lifters would be usual problem, though badly fitted pistons can cause similar as engine heats up
Click to expand...

Thanks for the thoughts, this was my original block and a friend who know more than me gave the slipped verdict s748.photobucket.com/user/davewillb/media/photo_zps13eddc49.jpg.html]
photo_zps13eddc49.jpg
[/URL].

Sounds like the consensus is that I should have soaked the lifters and that is probably the problem .. strange only one of the 16 is playing up though.

Dave
 
looks like block is cracked quite rare with 3.5 very common with 3.9 ,unsoaked good tappets would fill if oil supplies good a run normal, might be noisy for a minute to 10 , finding a poor tappet or 2 isnt a rare occurrence,over recent years
 
jamesmartin said:
looks like block is cracked quite rare with 3.5 very common with 3.9 ,unsoaked good tappets would fill if oil supplies good a run normal, might be noisy for a minute to 10 , finding a poor tappet or 2 isnt a rare occurrence,over recent years
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for the help - much appreciated, I'm going to get hold of a couple of spare lifters (good quality) and a valley gasket and have another go.

Dave
 
Well the tension is building, I grabbed a little time after work and got the rocker cover off - there is a nice quantity of oil present and...... nothing else significant noticeable.

So I carried on ans started to strip off the inlet manifold until I ran out of time and had to leave it until tomorrow.

All the pushrods where under some tension and felt the same with no slack - should I be able to feel anything if a lifter is playing up?

Dave
 
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