Cam and Engine Build Choices

[Robert Kenney]

Now what do I do with the rockers? Can you buy a rebuild kit or rebuilt set or rebuild them yourself? I read a lot from mr maybean (sp?) haven't taken mine apart yet. One thing that looks odd on my heads are some valves are almost flush with top of spring retainer and others are 1/4 inch higher (all approx) what's with that? I'll have to look harder when I have time in the shop.

On the rocker assy's, do you have boat rockers or the welded/bushed version? Both can be dealt with. First I assume you have fully immersed yourself in mm's postings on them.
if the engine has been maintained well it May only need disassembly, cleaning inspection and re-assembly.

The intake and exhaust valves are setup completely different. The stem above the retainer being different is normal.

Looky here. Of course spring installed height is shimmed 1.850" (iirc) across all and 80# on the seat.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Yup that picture looks right!

I have read so much mm stuff on rockers I have brain freeze, but since I have the welded type I am trying to free up brain space by deleting boat rockers...

compresion test was 120 to 125. All plugs came out looking tan, very little carbon on top of piston and hardly a groove up top of cylinder. Vehicle was parked inside last ten years and only used to plow. Which May indacate why so much cam bearing wear do to cold starts, low rpm plowing, suposedly never left the property. Did I mention no rust!

 

[Robert Kenney]

, very little carbon on top of piston and hardly a groove up top of cylinder.

The groove/ridge could be carbon? Depending on where the bores measure at you could be good to leave it standard and a light hone. The machine shop will be able to tall you. But remember the shop makes more money the more they whack on it. Doh !!!

May be a good thing for you to do either way.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

I send him a lot of work and he is more than fair to me for anything I have asked for in ten years...

I just went out and scraped the ring around the top of cylinder with a razor blade and there's hardly a thing left. Couple places on couple cylinders can't even catch a fingernail. I think this May be a hone at home and rings!

edit: the po told me it was origanal milage and the odometer reads 58k...

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Since I seem to have started my own engine build thread I thought I would put up some pictures of what I am working with.

Reason for low oil presure looks like cam bearing material in pan.

Picture of cylinder showing hardly any lip.

Type of head and showing no valve wear.

Picture of lifter wear.

Close up of rocker wear.

Type of rockers.

Picture of combustion chamber and valves.

And the first modifacation made to the new tow rig!

Well what do you think?

 

[Robert Kenney]

Good pictures Mark,

1) need to measure the bore to know for sure but in general if after cleaning the carbon at the top of the bore you can feel the lip even if barely it probably has more then the allowed wear/taper.

2 the bad cam bearings are hard on the rocker assembly. Both sides need a complete tear down and cleaning.

3) lifters and cam are toast by the lack of a outer ring with no wear. Must have dishing and that would indicate lobes are done.

4 good thing on those e heads is I see exhaust seat inserts. They will handle unleaded fine.

You're off to a good start for sure.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Appreciate the feedback Robert! I knew I was going to get it, yours seems promising and that's what I see here is a good motor to rebuild.

Block is coming out in the next couple days so I will have more information.

Hearing the heads are a good choice and I already have them is encouraging!

Bore and pistons or hone and re ring will be decided by machinist.

Will tear down rockers, thoughrough inspection, then pictures for advice here. But I see no bad wear. I see barly wear. Tops of valves look like no wear!

Cam and lifter were going to be replaced with a performance cam anyway. Yes they are dished, but no critacal damage. So the performance cam recomended ealier in thread from IH only? Comes with lifters or I have to order them with it! But what about valve springs? Use the IH springs? Other?

One thing we haven't talked about is oil pump. Is the oil pump rebuild kit I see here on IH only site what is recomended?

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Pictures later tonight but I got another question... Got the oil pan off and the block out of the truck. All the rods are number stamped! Does that mean this has been rebuilt before?

 

[Robert Kenney]

So the performance cam recomended ealier in thread from IH only? Comes with lifters or I have to order them with it!

Yep the same one and just clarify that you want lifters too. Ihon specs there own lifter (johnson's) because of the issues we have found regarding face contour on the other brands.

But what about valve springs? Use the IH springs? Other?

Use the comp set that Jeff sells http://www.IHPartsAmerica.com/store/comp-961-16-p-vt.html . think I mentioned it before but who knows .

one thing we haven't talked about is oil pump . is the oil pump rebuild kit I see here on IH only site what is recommended ?
[/quote ] you have the double sump ? if yes then you need that rebuild kit . if not then you can get a new pump and I believe Jeff sells it.

 

[Robert Kenney]

pictures later tonight but I got another question... Got the oil pan off and the block out of the truck. All the rods are number stamped! Does that mean this has been rebuilt before?

Not necessarily. Still have "IH" bearings in it?? It is probably a factory deal.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Ok the suspense is killing me as my son dismantles the engine.

Cam is out and doesn't look to bad but definatly has wear. Front cam bearing has failed and is missing the top layer on about half! Taking off the rear cam retainer plate now to see how bad the rear is...

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Rear cam bearing complete failure!!!

 

[Robert Kenney]

pictures!!!

 

[Eagle-Mark]

pictures!!!

I feel like I have been spanked...

front cam bearing.

Rear cam bearing.

Cam.

 

[Robert Kenney]

I feel like I have been spanked...

Hope you know it is all in fun. Nothing to serious here..

Wow it sure did shit them didn't it? I would say by the look of those bearings, they are factory originals. Shells will be stamped IH. Same on the rods and mains.

Had to use your nice photo to make a few points for reference.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

hope you know it is all in fun. Nothing to serious here..

I always take it as fun! Unless I am really told bluntly... Sometimes people mistake me because I am to blunt sometimes but if I'm on a forum it is always for fun! Even as serious as this thread is, it's fun for me!

Wow it sure did shit them didn't it? I would say by the look of those bearings, they are factory originals. Shells will be stamped IH. Same on the rods and mains.

So the rods are stamped with numbers? Mine are and I thought that was a sign of a past rebuild?

 

[Robert Kenney]

I've seen them on first time poppers many times. I have never opened up an IH that was not marked. Doesn't mean they were never built unmarked but I have yet to run into one.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

Well like I said they were all marked 1 through 8. Rod bearings and main bearings all have an IH emblem on back side and marked std. No signs of crank damage. No signs of rod damage. No signs of block damage. No signs of valve damage. No signs of rocker damage but I have not taken them apart yet. Pistons show a little skirt wear but from my experiance machinist usually say they look good the way they are but have to mic the cylinder bore to determine if indeed it needs a bore.

So overall we have all good parts to rebuild. Actually if it weren't for cam bearing failure and resulting oil pressure loss this motor would probably have gone another 100 to 200k miles.

Now comes the nickel and dime damage...

edit: went back and saw your notes on my rear cam bearing! Thanks! What your saying about the gasket not being there is critacal? Sign of origanal engine or good IH rebuilder? From everything on here it looks like an origanal.

 

[Eagle-Mark]

I've got a couple weeks before I need to order a cam! Wish a few guys would give opinions on all the cams listed in the IH only store. I looked at details and I could efi tune any of them so thats not an issue.

The one that says 1500 rpm up seems apealing because the others are 2000 rpm and up. Truck has 3:73 gears and a manual trans. Will be a street only and tow rig. No need to figure in for cam use. I do want this thing to scream hp while towing aas where we live within 5 minutes driving it is all mountains on the interstate.

Really looking for power 2000 to 3500 for towing.

I May teach my kid how to port and polish. Truck already has duel exhaust. Don't know what else to add? So I am looking for cam choice? Cam timing? What port and polish will help and hurt?

 

[yotakid85]

I am the son in this case, Dad just told me he was posting stuff so I thought I would check it out! I appreciate all your guys' info and all I am really looking for is a cool dd and a bad ass tow rig! And like I said thanks for all the info and im really looking forward to this rebuild