Re: Help needed with stuck lifter in my 1929 348

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2012/11/12 9:11:22

Dave, curious - was the valve over the bent arm an intake or an exhaust? You might use a valve spring compressor and compress and remove the spring on that valve and see if the valve can move freely up and down - obviously something overloaded the failed arm. Beyond that I don't think I can offer much more help. The hardened pad that contacts the lifter base was a press-fit on the forged arms, I don't know how it was attached to the stamped steel arms but Todd would know.

If you consider changing over to forged roller arms, and I don't think the stamped arms are in any way a chronic problem (I've seen bent forged arms as well), keep in mind that the oiling system was also changed; the forged arms are rifle-drilled to receive oil under pressure from the shaft to the roller pin. I believe the roller pins on the stamped arms were lubricated by drip and mist. Since my experience is with the slightly later engines, I leave you in the capable hands of those that have your vintage engines. Good luck - I anxiously await hearing what the culprit was.