- Joined
- Oct 5, 2007
- Messages
- 5,341
- Reaction score
- 2,914
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Toledo Ohio
- Vehicle Year
- 20002005199
- Make / Model
- Fords
- Engine Size
- 3.0 2.3
first off, is the 2000 flex 3.0 an interference engine??? 'cause I'm having issues.
was running OK at 117,000 so I'm leaving the bottom alone, heads are still on.
it leaked a lot, so I did what 'ol retired guys do and pulled the engine for easier access.
it's on a stand, intake off, good view of the cam & lifters.
bought a set of SBF 1.7:1 roller roller rockers, time to see if they fit.
loosened all the rockers & removed pushrods. timing chain is now off so I can spin the cam by hand.
all the pushrods were tight, engine hadn't been run for months, the springs in the lifters were keeping tension.
new cam pedestals are only a couple thousands narrower that stock, close enough.
kit bolts are 5/16, found some CV bolts from an 82 VW that are only 5 threads shorter. good enough for a test fit.
you'll need 8mm x 1.25 -50 allen head bolts for the correct fit, grade 10.9
crank at TDC, removed #1 exhaust spring, bolted the new rocker on,,,,, now the issues begin.
there is at least 1/8 inch between the valve tip & roller. so much for a direct bolt-on. if push the rocker down it contacts the stem correctly.
with no spring I was able to move the valve and check, it would drop just below the stem wear area then hit the piston.
rotated crank a few degrees L & R, yep valve started to drop so I know valve was on the piston.
then I checked for lift, rotated the cam by hand, it took up the 1/8" gap then pushed then valve down enough to hit the piston. ?????
repeated several times. yep, the new 1.7 rockers push the valve into the piston even with 1/8" valve lash. major bummer.
notched pistons are not in the plan, nor the budget.
here's where it gets weird: put the stock rockers back in, (spring still missing) snug it down and give the cam a spin.
the freaking valve still hits the piston!!!!
either this is an interference engine or there should be a hellava lot of preload on the lifters.
any ideas?
maybe tomorrow I'll put a degree wheel & dial indicator on it and find some weak springs to test with.
was running OK at 117,000 so I'm leaving the bottom alone, heads are still on.
it leaked a lot, so I did what 'ol retired guys do and pulled the engine for easier access.
it's on a stand, intake off, good view of the cam & lifters.
bought a set of SBF 1.7:1 roller roller rockers, time to see if they fit.
loosened all the rockers & removed pushrods. timing chain is now off so I can spin the cam by hand.
all the pushrods were tight, engine hadn't been run for months, the springs in the lifters were keeping tension.
new cam pedestals are only a couple thousands narrower that stock, close enough.
kit bolts are 5/16, found some CV bolts from an 82 VW that are only 5 threads shorter. good enough for a test fit.
you'll need 8mm x 1.25 -50 allen head bolts for the correct fit, grade 10.9
crank at TDC, removed #1 exhaust spring, bolted the new rocker on,,,,, now the issues begin.
there is at least 1/8 inch between the valve tip & roller. so much for a direct bolt-on. if push the rocker down it contacts the stem correctly.
with no spring I was able to move the valve and check, it would drop just below the stem wear area then hit the piston.
rotated crank a few degrees L & R, yep valve started to drop so I know valve was on the piston.
then I checked for lift, rotated the cam by hand, it took up the 1/8" gap then pushed then valve down enough to hit the piston. ?????
repeated several times. yep, the new 1.7 rockers push the valve into the piston even with 1/8" valve lash. major bummer.
notched pistons are not in the plan, nor the budget.
here's where it gets weird: put the stock rockers back in, (spring still missing) snug it down and give the cam a spin.
the freaking valve still hits the piston!!!!
either this is an interference engine or there should be a hellava lot of preload on the lifters.
any ideas?
maybe tomorrow I'll put a degree wheel & dial indicator on it and find some weak springs to test with.