OK, i figured it out.

the end of the valve is mushroomed just enough to keep it from letting go of the spring.

i could not feel it with my finger but i looked and you can see it.

next stop, hours of careful filing.

Dave

OK, update time.

i have the head off and it is the intake valve for #3 that is stuck, well was stuck.

i have the valve so it will move, i have removed the keeper but i cannot get the spring or spring cap to let go of the valve. i try to pull up on the valve and it brings the spring up with it, compressing it and pulling the valve back down to the seat.

i have compressed the spring and looked to see if there is a bur or something catching on the spring cap but i cannot see or feel anything....

HELP, what would cause the srping and cap to not let go of the valve stem when the keeper has been removed???


thanks, Dave

Hi Owen,

i am pretty sure it is the exhaust valve, the plug was wet with gas when i took it out, but not positive. both manifolds join at that location


no woble at all in the lifter, and it moves up & down freely no sticking.


thanks for all the help, i really do appreciate it.

Dave

Hi Owen,

not sure what valve it is - intake / exhaust, i have yet to find a diagram of the valve line up for the 384.

the photo below is the valve in question the X marks the valve on #3 cylinder. i believe it is stuck, tried to move it no luck. BUT, i do not have my spring compressor. loaned it to my brother years ago now he cannot find it, so i will have to get another one. do you have a recommendation for a spring compressor? the one i had was the large C shaped type.

also, if anyone reading this has a good used stamped rocker arm forsale let me know, so far i have only found rollers and pins online, no complete arms.

thanks for all the help, Dave

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Hi Owen,

thank you very much for the help.

the lifter goes up & down just fine, and no woble.
i put my finger in the rocker opening and felt the bottom of the lifter and the ones near it, it did not feel like there was damage.

now, when this happened while driving down the road, the car had backfired when i started it. i did not mention this before because this has never happened, but from what i have seen in the past some times a backfire can cause a bent pushrod in more modern cars, could that apply here?

i have a dental mirror and will check in the spark plug hole in a day or so to see if anything is in there.

now, about the hardend pad. it looks like it is rivited or spot welded. how are they attached?


Dave

Update - i have removed the rocker assembly and found a bent arm. NO damage to the cam thank god.

i believe it is stamped steel, not forged.

i noticed there is a bushing soldered into the arm, can i assume the new ones DO NOT come with a bushing?

here are some photo's.



if anyone has some advice i would welcome the input.

the internal dia. of the bushing is .500



thanks, dave

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That photo is perfect, thank you.

i searched and found that Kanter and a couple others have the arms with pin and roller for around $30. - 40.
this weekend i will work on getting it apart to inspect.

i just hope no damage to the cam, i was driving at around 35, 40mph when this happened.

will let you know what i find when its apart.

thanks a million, Dave

Ok, this what happened,
i was driving down the road and car started running like crap, a bad miss and lots of noise. i had the car towed home and the first thing i did was pull the spark plugs.

all were good except number 3. that plug was wet and fouled. so i tried the spark test, very good hot spark, next i pulled the valve cover { see photo } and had my son push the starter and thats when i noticed the lifter for #3 exhaust was not pushing up on the vavle. BUT, it does go up and down, just not as much as it should compared to the other lifters.

now, i had assumed that there was a plunger and spring on the bottom of the lifter, but since i have never looked at an engine this old i guess i am wrong.

i have taken off the nuts to the follower cover but have not removed it, i figure i would try to find some photo's or someone who has done this before i get to deep into it.

i have worked on plenty of overhead valve engines from the 50's to the 80's but have never worked on a flat head so all this it new to me.

also, i believe this is a 384.

if any of you have photo's you can post or a link to photo's it would help very much. i have all the tools i need to do the job but i want to figure out exactly what i have first.

thanks, Dave

Hello.
i have a stuck "compressed" lifter for the exhaust valve on my #3 cylinder, 348 straight eight.

how hard is it to get this out?
will it come out if i take off the retaining clip or will it fall into the block?

thanks in advance, Dave in Tampa

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i think it is a aftermarket or dealer accessory for the owners initials. other than that i have no idea. it was on the car when i got it.

Dave