Technical Engine builders: Why is my new 322 breaking rockers?

Right now my weather is showing 40-60% chance @ 7-8:00 am and 30% @ 2:00 pm, probably not good for open carbs. I'll check first thing in the morning.

Fair weather Craig

 

Got a chance to check in on your progress and it seems you have indeed progressed. Good deal !! Hope your labors continue bring resolution. Regards.

 

My smile here says it all. Thanks for the pic Craig!

 

Awesome!

 

Cool! Did you get wet today?

 

Yes, dry all the way there, some quick, but heavy showers there and a it 15 minutes of rain on the way home.

 

We got wet at the steam show. Drove one of dad's tractors in the parade then my 49 chevy pickup. On the way home got in a heavy shower, found windshield leaks at the corners. Glad I went with the rubber floor mat.

 

Runs a little better now that the valve springs actually compress, eh? WOOHOO!
And to think you were ready to give up and put a (eww, ech! Blach!) flatty in it!

 

A man and his hot rod. F*ckin' awesome!

 

CQQL!

 

Years ago, we built a 322 Buick with a very "aggressive" Crower flat tappet cam. Spinning it over while checking everything for interference, we noticed that the sharp corner of the lifters would dig into the lobes of the cam. The cam profile was beyond what a flat tappet could do. It was doable with roller tappet, although I imagine eventually the block lifter bore area was going to break. We saw some broken Chryslers and some broken Pontiac lifter bores.

 

Seeing that shit eating grin on your face even made me smile

 

Shit eating grin, ha ha ha!

 

Awesome picture, glad you sorted out the valve spring issue.
Driving the car makes it all worthwhile. Larry

 

Nice

 

X2

 

Roadsir - am going through a similar adventure with a 322 rebuild on a 55 Buick and checking the inner and outer springs for binding with the 1.6 rockers, and also have been looking for the right spring combination. Thanks for the tip on the inner springs part number that worked for you. What did you end up choosing for the outer spring?

Thanks

Ken

 

Ken, I used the sealed power outers. The Toyota inners are working great, valve train is nice and quiet.
Good luck.

 

Great ambition and attitude . Thanks for sharing your story.

 

Roadsir - thanks for the quick response - to verify the outer that worked for you is Sealed Power # VS612, bind point at 1.03 inches?

Lift on my cam is .270, 1.6 401 rockers, lift at valve is .430 (all math), figure it might be .010-.020 less lift in practical operation when the lifter preloads which should yield .050-.060 of margin to bind. Does that sound ball park?

Thanks for posting and great work - you have helped us 322 Nailhead folks trying to get a little more giddy-up avoid a potential problem. Hope to return the favor someday.

Ken

 

Yep Sealed Power VS612. I got them from Rock Auto, but any Auto Value or similar should be able to get them. There cheap....The Toyotas are expensive, but solved a major problem. I bet you'll be OK with that cam.
Keep me posted.....Glad to help another nailhead (or technically nail valve) see the light of day!
Eric

 

Perfect - am on it. I have a thread going on my rebuild over in the Buick forum - referenced your help.

 

Wow , 8 years later and Toyota inner spring and sealed power outer springs are still working…. Not too many miles… maybe 5000, I need to get a speedo in it…. And more!

 

The three things I would look at are:

1: Rotate the engine till the valves are open fully and check that there isn't any coil bind with a set of feeler guages and how much actual gap you do have.

2: I'd check that the valve guides or the seals you used are not too tall .

3: I'd look at the area where the valve retainer is near the rocker arm as it opens and closes and make sure there is no rubbing or interference.

Oh, and lastly I'd check the valves that the rockers broke on by removing the springs and seeing if the valve raise and lower easily without sticking............so make that 4 things.