One more on the checklist for your rebuilder

Posted by Jack Vines On 2013/12/11 19:06:23

Recently I had an owner come to me with a "rebuilt" engine on which the rocker arms weren't oiling. They were so dry, they were actually squeaking.

I knew what the problem was, but I said, "Call your rebuilder and ask if he removed the end plugs and cleaned the interior of the rocker shafts."

Of course, the answer was, "No. We did run them through the hot tank and they looked clean."

When I removed the shafts, running without oil had ruined the shaft and rocker. I pulled out one soft plug and showed the owner the interior was solid with old crud. No oil could move through there to lubricate the rockers.

I sold him one of my rebuilt sets. His will have to go to a shop on the coast to have the shafts ground and hard chromed and the rockers fitted with bushings.

The low-ball rebuilder shop not taking an hour to disassemble the rocker shafts and clean them cost the owner another $500 and some aggravation.

jack vines