<VV> ? Rocker Failure - Third time?

[MarK Durham]

Oil pressure is typical for corvairs.
When I did a running valve adjustment I lost a full quart per side, 5
minutes running per side, maybe a bit more.
I too have Elgin deep dimple lifters, so what is different?
I bought new push rods. I do not know all the dynamics in play here, but if
you have not replaced the push rods, do. They may be worn enough on the
ends so they won't rotate fast enough to keep things lubricated.
Another thought is that I too bought Clark's higher pressure oil pressure
spring and new relief valve to ensure maximum pressure, to flow more oil. I
would think 1/4 quart in 5 minutes would be plenty. Also, if not using a
full synthetic, switch now. It's these high temp and pressure situations
that break down dino oils. I think you said Brad Penn oil? Frankly it does
not fare very well in psi friction  tests. Mobil 1 5w40 turbo diesel truck
at wallys world has 1250 zinc and 1130 phosphorus, plenty for our engines
and is so slippery I could hardly hold on to the tools to do the valve
adjustment!
Mark Durham
Hauser Idaho.
On Jun 15, 2015 8:15 PM, "Kent Goddard via VirtualVairs" <
virtualvairs at corvair.org> wrote:

> 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.
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> 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.
>
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> 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
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