Help!! Lifter Problem!!

S

ScoutII22

Member
1979 Scout II 345. Auto trans 727

okay, so ive been having a lot of problems with getting my Scout to run correctly. To be honest, it only runs like crap and it is blowing lots of blue smoke out of the exhaust. I tried all I could to fix it but ended up doing a compression test and replacing all spark plugs. On the #7 cylinder, the spark plug was covered in oil and there was little to no compression in the cylinder. So, for some reason, I was looking in the oil filler cap and saw that one of the valve springs wasnt moving. So I pulled the whole cover and there was no pushrod on #7! It had dropped down inside the engine but I was able to pull it out. The pushrod is straight and seems to be fine. I have no idea what to do. I think its a lifter problem but if I need to replace them, do I need to pull the head? Help!
 
The only things that can cause a dropped push rod but not bend it, is a valve that is/was stuck full open or a compressed and stuck lifter plunger...

Pull the valve spring and make sure the valve slides freely through it's full range.. Don't let it drop in to the cylinder, place the piston at tdc.

You'll need a strong telescoping magnet to fish out the lifter. Harbor freight sells a good one for this job. The magnet head is about 3/4" in diameter and strong...
Pull the lifter thru the head push rod opening and disassemble it, completely clean it with carburetor cleaner until all of the varnish is gone and the plunger will fall in and out under it's own weight. Oil it up, reassemble it and reinstall it... I assume you just want to get it running and not worry about a cam wear issue...

To put it back together you May need a helper to replace the retainer clip in final assembly.. I use a drill press with a pin in the chuck to compress and hold the lifter plunger down while I snap the retainer clip in place. Be careful not to lose the clip, they fly very well when they are allowed to go free...:icon_mrgreen:
 
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