<VV> ? Rocker Failure - Third time?

[Kent Goddard]

Many thanks for the robust discussion.  I've updated my Forum post and will update VV also since some folks don't frequent the Forum.
Update (including more bad news) and
responses to a few questions:

Lifters are new Elgin deep dimple from Clarks.All valve adjustments were done cold the same way: Tighten
nut until the rocker just quits moving in open/closed and left/right
directions.  Then tighten 1/2 turn.  All have 2-3 threads showing past end of nut.All push rods showed about the same oil flow but
I'm concerned it may be insufficient. 
(With R valve cover off and engine running between 1000 and 3000 rpm for
5 minutes I lost only ~1/4 quart of oil. 
Note, car was jacked higher on R side for access but don't think this
would make much difference.)Heads were milled .055"" (leaving .010"
land). Stock head gaskets (.032" big bore copper) and stock cylinder base gaskets (.015" steel).Oil pressure now that I've switched from 30W Brad Penn
break-in oil to 10W-30 Brad Penn: 15 psig at idle and 35 psig when
driving.  Sending unit mounted in hole
tapped down through top of oil filter bolt, with side hole in bolt.Spring coils not close to binding at full lift (based on
observation plus others have used same springs with 270 cam).Valve stem contact patch looked OK, at least to me (see
photo in original Forum post).I replaced a 3rd rocker (#3 exhaust) that was turning blue
but had not failed.  No sign of cracks,
but had a small amount of black deposit on ball edges and adjacent to ball
contact surface which looks to me like charred oil deposits.















 

So I stayed up LATE Saturday replacing rockers etc. so my
son and I could do an early Father's Day autocross on Sunday.  Car ran good for first 6 runs.  Started running rough last 4 runs.  Pulled plug wires 1 at a time and determined
that #2 cylinder is dead!  No
smoke out tailpipe this time so my guess is a broken rocker on exhaust
valve.  First (apparent) failure on L
side, so no longer a R-side-only issue. 
There goes the trip to Knoxville (at least the car's not going).  If I still attend I'll bring the parts for
others to see.

 

2 questions:

- Does the oil flow from pushrods described above
sound OK or low?

- Does the oil pressure described above sound OK?
Thanks again.  Kent