collapsed lifters, temp solution query, was: need Cam. Now new Cam running

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letank
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collapsed lifters, temp solution query, was: need Cam. Now new Cam running

Post by letank »

Cylinder #2, has both lifters collapsed, and Yes, I need to drive the dam project out of the property and no time to fix it... May be...

solution 1, remove both push rods to prevent unburn gas being dumped in cylinder...

solution 2, add some MMO and keep fingers crossed....

vehicle... another project... not on my list... it is an 86... w 360... and 138kmiles... sitting for too long

thank you

next : which provider should I use to buy replacement lifters, I will probably disassemble lifters to change the innards...
Last edited by letank on Sun Jan 20, 2019 9:49 am, edited 4 times in total.
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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ghcoe
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by ghcoe »

I would try to rebuild them. Replacing them with new could chew up the cam. Lifters and cam wear together.
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by Nikkormat »

In my limited experience, if the lifters are collapsing the cam is not far behind. What's the oil pressure Michel?

I'd fill it full of THICK single grade and a bottle of STP. And plan on doing a cam replacement on the engine. The goal is to preserve the bottom end in the meantime.

When I had lifters collapse on my 90 the cam started to go, the shavings of cam wore out the oil pump fast, and the bottom end went away.
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letank
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

oil press is good, this engine has been sitting for a while. low compression on #2, at 60psi, barely changed with a tsp of oil to 80psi, lead me to this discovery, which was originally a strong smell of gas in oil... put an efuel pump, but it still smell like gas oil after 10 miles
Other cyl are at 150 , 140 psi
I will rebuilt the affected lifters as suggested by G. Rockauto list 6 types of lifters... but for my last order the valve cover was not the right one... probably a GC, albeit the partnum was correct.
will check cam when pulling parts out...
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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fulsizjeep
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by fulsizjeep »

Wally's 360 did this at 225K and it was time for the 401 swap. A 7 cylinder 360 doesn't pull the grades here very well.
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by babywag »

I’ve had luck dumping in couple quarts of atf.
let engine idle for 20 mins. then fresh oil + 1qt. of mmo.

worked well on an engine that sat for ~10yrs.
lifters went quite after ~hour run time, and they were LOUD.
-Tony
'88 GW (aka Babywag)

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letank
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

Thank you Flint and Tony... , the funny part is that the lifters are quiet... I did the compression check because it started to smoke a bit... , vacuum is good at 21" with a bit of flutter that is less than 1".
I can try the ATF and MMO... 15W40 rotella is cheap at wally's world...
Especially that I have to wait for rockauto order or summit, the local shop cannot get me lifters, because these are not allowed to be sold on pollution controlled vehicle... I told the gal, it is an off road vehicle... she said the order would not be delivered... Unless I order the package with the cam, but she could not tell me if the cam came with the bearings, and looking at the cam sheet, it specified not for sale on pollution controlled vehicles
Michel
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by babywag »

I’d go thin vs. thick on oil when trying to clean things out.
If it has good pressure thick just reduces flow
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

babywag wrote:I’d go thin vs. thick on oil when trying to clean things out.
If it has good pressure thick just reduces flow
I guess I can add some 0W20

Thank you again
Michel
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85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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Stuka
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by Stuka »

How far do you need to drive? There is nothing that stops you from driving it with the collapsed lifters. You will have a miss fire, and maybe an annoying noise. But it should not injure anything in the engine.

Try the ATF, it may free them up (worked on my 258). but otherwise, I say just drive it to its new home.

EDIT: If there is no noise, I bet the cam lobes are gone :/
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letank
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

Stuka wrote:How far do you need to drive? < snip>

Try the ATF, it may free them up
about 60 miles, will give a try with ATF at idle, at least it is in an industrial zonning area, nobody will complain about smoke on the weekend...

ordered parts, will give an update on the weekend when I get all the bits...

I was thinking to check cam lobe travel w a dial gauge, if I can stick the pointer onto the lifter body
Michel
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85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by Stuka »

letank wrote:
Stuka wrote:How far do you need to drive? < snip>

Try the ATF, it may free them up
about 60 miles, will give a try with ATF at idle, at least it is in an industrial zonning area, nobody will complain about smoke on the weekend...

ordered parts, will give an update on the weekend when I get all the bits...

I was thinking to check cam lobe travel w a dial gauge, if I can stick the pointer onto the lifter body
There wont be any smoke. Put the ATF in the oil. It will clean the lifters. No reason to clean the combustion chambers.
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by babywag »

Stuka wrote:
letank wrote:
Stuka wrote:How far do you need to drive? < snip>

Try the ATF, it may free them up
about 60 miles, will give a try with ATF at idle, at least it is in an industrial zonning area, nobody will complain about smoke on the weekend...

ordered parts, will give an update on the weekend when I get all the bits...

I was thinking to check cam lobe travel w a dial gauge, if I can stick the pointer onto the lifter body
There wont be any smoke. Put the ATF in the oil. It will clean the lifters. No reason to clean the combustion chambers.
Yeah when I said dump a couple qts. of ATF I meant in the crankcase/oil. Through the carb/intake wouldn’t touch lifters.
-Tony
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letank
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

babywag wrote:
Stuka wrote: There wont be any smoke. Put the ATF in the oil. It will clean the lifters. No reason to clean the combustion chambers.
Yeah when I said dump a couple qts. of ATF I meant in the crankcase/oil. Through the carb/intake wouldn’t touch lifters.
Thank you Stuka and Tony... I remember when the modulator on the TH400 failed and the ATF was sucked by the engine vacuum last millenium... Of course we are on a different part of the drivetrain for this project ...

Test run saturday... will probably do a video...
Michel
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85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by fulsizjeep »

I also meant to say... I opened the 360 up after the 401 was running a while. In my case, both lobes on the cam for #2 cylinder were almost round and the lifters were all cupped.

The engine was also very quiet when this happened to me.
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by 440sixpack »

You can put new lifters on a used cam that's not a problem. if that's your only problem which is unlikely.

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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

440sixpack wrote:You can put new lifters on a used cam that's not a problem. if that's your only problem which is unlikely.
I did this years ago on the 74 with good results, but it was a noisy lifter.

otherwise, I ran the 1qt ATF sat, and again sun. I will have to do a compression test and may be pull the valve cover to inspect the effects. If is smoky when you open the throttle.

edit: did compression monday, up from 60 to 80 psi... drained oil... will post latter how it runs... too.mang bits to patch
Michel
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by letank »

did the 50 mile drive to the next resting place, it smokes on start up, w fresh clean 10w40, the following vehicule did not notice any noticeable smoke.
oil check showed no black streaks as the previous oil change.
It was a 90F day, temp normal, oil pressure at 40. Something leaked on the uphill driveway... brake fluid cap might be loose... at 94F... cleaned the brake booster and retreated for a cool one
Michel
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85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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Re: collapsed lifters, temp solution query

Post by Stuka »

Glad it made it.
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letank
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Re: collapsed lifters, ATF rules

Post by letank »

the compression has gone from 80 to 115psi. there is a noticeable tap, but not outrageously loud. Did not have time to.pull valve cover for a manual check, to be done later.
Otherwise, the poorly locking handbrake spring ratchet was fixed w pb blaster
Michel
74 wag (349 Kmiles... parked, next step is a rust free body)
85 Gwag (229 Kmiles... the running test lab)
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