i have an f/e im my o/t daily f100 im planning on changing the intake gaskets tommorrow it just turned 120,000 miles heres my dum question would it be stupid to change either the lifters, pushrods or rockers to try to "improve" it? notice i didnt ask about the cam just the other parts in the valvetrain
You can always put higher ratio/roller tip rockers on- it'll give you a little more lift and duration without changing the cam plus reduce friction. Cost 150 for the cheap ones and 3-4 for the good stuff. Get machined (instead of cast) if you can. fourspeed
It wouldn't be stupid.... but maybe asking for trouble. If you don't have a lifter problem....leave it alone. You'll be tired enough after wrestling with that pig of a manifold.... why risk it?
I don't think you'll find any high lift ratio rockers for an FE. And I have to ask too, why are you changing the intake gaskets? And if there is a reason, the best thing you can do for an FE is get rid of the 1,000 pound intake manifold for an aluminum one.
im changing them because it has afew oil seeps and i think i have avac*** leak while driving it for extended periods the warmer it gets the worse it runs.....ive allready been completely through the ignition system (repaced everything)and installed a rebuilt carb, did the timing chain and gears , put on a new fuel pump and re routed the fuel line so it could be in cooler air (i have one small section down by the fuelpump that is kinda close to the header some im probably going to re rout that section of the line also) everything ive done has helped the warm running problem alittle bit more im just trying to tackle one possible problem at atime a guy at the local advaned auto (who owns anice 46 ford witha flathead init) told me i might have a burnt valve and i shoulod do a vac*** check on it and another reason is it looks like someone dumped a whole quart of oil on it and just left it so i want to clean it up and paint the intake i REALLY like clean non greaseball engines in my cars
im not looking for a high lift rockers or anything like that i was thinking of replaceing them with stock replacement rockers to "restore" the factory settings (for lack of a better word ) that 120k miles and poor maintence (previous owner) have taken away
The stock rockers really won't deteriorate in any way that would hurt performance unless they got really sloppy on the shaft, which isn't common on an FE. A set of factory adjustable rockers and pushrods will allow you to set the valve lash (stock is not adjustable) and I have seen them pick up 20 HP with that change over.
As others have said, that manifold is very heavy and you should get help lifting it back in place after cleaning it up. Clean and inspect the push rods and rocker arms and replace any that are worn. Use a quality gasket set with sealant where needed and ****on it up. Ford built the FE engines very heavy to last a long time and most do.
aaggie, yeah i know all about how heavy a cast iron fe intake is im gonna kinda cheat abit im going to pull it off with my engine hoist and a carb flange lifting plate i wouldnt trust one of those carb flange lifting plates to pull a whole engine but one should hold just the intake
You can spray some brake or carb cleaner around the intake and carb base when running,if you have a vacuum leak it will idle up in the bad spot.Dont soak it,just lighly spray areas so it wont ignite.If you had a burnt valve or bad lifter it would run rough all the time and rattle.If you replace the lifters you will have to brake them in as you would a cam.
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