lifters, hydraulic or solids?

[Anonymous]

: I have inherited a 60 falcon with a 65 200ci. This motor had several pushrods bent and after replacing them I need to adjust. My problem is that I don't know the history of this engine, it has adjustable rockers but I don't know if the lifters are hyd. or solid. Is there any way to tell without removing head to pull lifters? Thanks, I appreciate any tips.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Olgeezer:

It would be helpful to know the casting number on the passengers side of the block.

Adios, David

 

[Anonymous]

hello david,
I'll try to get those numbers and post them in the next day or so.
thanks, geezer.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello David

Had the opportunity to get those numbers. They are: C5DE over 6015H.
Later, geezer

 

[Anonymous]

If you have not done so already, you may need to check to make sure that the valves are not stuck befor turning over the engine. Turn the engine by hand and do not force anything. My '65 Lincoln sat for a couple of years and when I went to start it, it sounded like a diesel with all of the clatter. After pulling the rockers, I found I had bent pushrods because the valves stuck in the cast iron guides.
Doug

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy back:

A C5 block should be a 7 main bearing block with hydraulic lifters.

Has the engine been run yet? Does it turn over? What caused the bent pushrods? How long had the engine sat?

Other than disassembly, I do not know of another way to determine if your hydraulic lifters had been replaced with solids. You may be able to make a tool to be able to put down force on a rocker to see if you can feel any give to a hydraulic lifter. There is some play inside the hyd lifters- about .125" If you can feel any give, that will tell you. But if the lifter is stuck in the bore, it is likely stuck on the inside too.

Dougs experience caused push rods to bend.
Doug- how did you get the stuck lifters loose?

Very interesting.

Adios, David

 

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I have not torn that engine down. I had replace the belts plugs, wires, hoses etc in prep to move it to OKC 5 years ago (under its own power after I sold my house). When I started it, it sounded bad and would not go above 40 mph on the trip to my Dad's. Probably stupidly, I had it trucked up to OKC to get it out of my Dad's garage. My shop was not built for a year or two and the car sat outside by a field and rats ate the new plug wires etc. Now, it just keeps getting pushed back behind other projects. One of the reasons I keep pushing it off is the 430 ci motor is getting tough to find parts for. This old engine has 3 thermostats, a regular thermostat and two small T-stats in the heads. It also has a hydraulic pump that bolts on to the engine like a water pump. It powered the steering and the hydraulic windshield wipers which are great for moving wet snow off of the windscreen.
Doug

 

[Anonymous]

The car sat for quite a while, however I brought it home changed oil and filter, plugs etc. and it started right up. I drove it several hundred miles with no problems. I then loaned it to my 20 year old son who drove it for several months until it bent two push rods- one rod had the end completly eaten up. I don't know how far he drove it in that condition. I had another 6 laying in the yard and borrowed a couple of push rods just to get it running to see if any damage. It seems to be okay. I adjusted the valves as if they were solid lifts but is very noisy so I wonder if they are hydraulic? I also ran it with seafoam in the crankcase and changed oil and filter.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Back:

Ahhh! the worn end of the pushrod indicates a lack of oil getting to the front of the rocker shaft. You should see oil oozing from each rocker, especially the front as they are the last to get oil. Most likely the shaft, rocker holes are plugged with gunk and not allowing oil to the front, or more, of the rockers, pushrods, and the lifters below.

Remove and disassemble the rocker shaft and thoroughly clean it, inside and out. Make sure the oil holes on both sides of the rockers are open and flowing.

Seafoam will help clean out varnish and some gunk but it will not open clogged passages.

Check it out by removing the rocker cover, starty the engine and watch how long it takes to see oil ooze out of the front rockers. Any longer than a minute indicates a problem.

Adios, David