Haven't had a chance to work on it in a bit. Will try to get around to it this weekend.Any update?
Agree with that first sentence. He mentions the exhaust lifter sticking previously. It probably killed the cam and thats why the pushrod fell out.Lose the phone number of the repair shop who told you to run premium fuel. Complete hogwash. You have ran the idle adjustment screw all the way in? Did not see it in your description. Extra valve clearance is on the wrong path too. First determine if it really is a fuel problem. Is the spark plug wet or dry? Is it the right plug? Timing is at least near where it needs to be and the ignition timing is somewhere near 32 degrees? No head gasket problems? If its a motor that ran before you messed with it, concentrate on each and everything you did to make it unacceptable.
Everything looks normal when I pull the engine over but I might as well open it up anyway.If the lifter is sticking, is it possible the lifter is stuck in the open position and there is not enough spring pressure to close the valve and the lifter back on the cam lobe? Rotating the engine without the valve cover to see if the exhaust valve is closing all the way may help. Just my 2 cents.
I have no idea what else it could be then. Cam was totally fine - no damage. Pushrods aren't bent. Lifters themselves look good. Double checked my coil gap (set it to a little bit larger than 0.03" which I believe is close to stock. When I put it all back together I'm going to reset my lash to what it was before I called the engine repair shop. What else can I check?If you had a lifter sticking you wouldn’t have had any compression.
Good to know. I replaced the stock rockers with OEM replacements already but if they bend I will upgrade them.In the hemi motor they use a really weak stock rocker arm. I had one, ran great until it didnt. Pulled the valve cover and a pushrod had fallen out. Put it back in and readjusted lash, ran fine for a little while. It quit again. Pushrod had fallen out again. This time I actually inspected it, the crummy rocker arms were bending due to the poor design and the heavy springs I was running. Id bought the motor used but did get the builder sheet that came with it. Read it and there it was Do NOT use stock rockers with these springs!
Lifters are fine. I didn't have to beat on them, just a slight tap on the exhaust lifter. New ones just came in and they're identical. Crank play is just fine. Cam clearance is fine. Not a lot of shavings in the oil (not more than what was in it before, at least...very little). Also running a stock tank, no pump. Worked just fine before.Have you figured out where the idle jet is located ? Sounds like the lifters are mushroomed out enough to drag , possibly done when you had to use a hammer on them . Did you check the crank end play ? Also I have read in some posts here in the past about crank/cam interference . Was there a lot of shavings in the oil when you drained it ? Giving Don a call is a wise idea , he has spent hours with these engines , and knows what he is talking about , as well as many others on here . Just 1 other question , are you using a top plate and pump , or stock tank ?