I just finished my 355 buildup and have it up and running, but not without some problems.

I have a pretty obvious rattle/knock. I still haven't identified what it is exactly. Its pretty fast and consistent, but not really deep or very hard sounding. My first thought was having rockers too tight. I had only set them at zero + 1/4 turn, I now have them set at zero. On stock lifters maybe 1/4 or zero is too loose?

The first startup I didn't have the full exhaust on, headers were open, so I didn't notice any knock then. After I finished the exhaust I noticed it was running a little hard. Found 3 pushrods had actually popped out. So I will check the pushrods to see if any are bent tonight... so that could be a possible culprit. From under the car, the knocking is very obvious and it can really be felt in the pan.

The thought a co-worker had is that maybe the cam is too much for the stock rockers, and that the rockers are maxxed out... hitting the end of the slot that they move on.

Right now I am contemplating just getting a set of comp R lifters, new pushrods, and crane gold roller rockers. I have to talk to my builder and see if I have enough room for 1.6's...

Anyone have any thoughts on this, or run into anything like it before?


Cam is a 220/229 with .510 lift, 114LSA

 

HYD LIFTERS, 1/4 TO 1/2 PRESET.

 

correction, for stock hydraulic lifters that is a good setting. for the good ones available you barely preload them at all.

To the guy that started the thread, there are too many variables...

 

Completely understood... I just talked to the engine builder a few hours ago on the phone, he recommended with my setup I go one full turn preload... which from everything I have read is way too much.

I've got a few things to check tonight... will go ahead and check all pushrods for straightness and make sure my rockers aren't hitting the shafts.

 

if anyone cared... the problem was that the rockers were hitting the stud they mount on. I used a dremel tool to cut the slots a little longer, polished and cleaned them... basically a temp fix until I can get new rockers/pushrods/etc in a few weeks.

 

You need to be really careful with that. Stamped rockers aren't very strong to begin with.

BTW, my rockers are set at slightly less than 3/4 turn on 80K mile stocker lifters.

 

So is this a normal occurance? I plan on running the cc305 as well with factory rockers for now...
-Eric

 

If you just HAVE to run stamped steel rockers,get the long slot ones from Crane.

 

So the stock ones WILL NOT work?
GODDD the *** at ramchargers is wrong again...
Thats gonna set me back a week gettin my car back together... damnit!!!
Anyone have a set of self guiding RRs i can buy for a decent deal? i need em now...
-ERic