Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Hi folks,

The slow and much delayed process to re-assemble my '53 327 5-main/hydraulic lifter engine began in earnest today, after some delay caused by issues with new valve guides. I got those in and everything is fine there, and hand-lapped the new valves against the newly machined seats to make sure everything is fine there.

Now, I get the engine on it's side and start to insert the tappets back in their bores. I had the tappets lightly refaced by the local machine shop. Now I put them back in their bores and I find that, for about 12 of the 16 tappets, they don't go all the way down, some of them hit what feels like a "hard stop" just at the point they would emerge from the other side, whereas about 4 go all the way down. I tried different tappets in different bores and it seems an issue with the bores, not the tappets, because I switch tappets and the problem stays with the tappets not the bores. I am not sure how this could have happened, as these are the original tappets, and again it doesn't seem to be a problem with the tappets, it seems to be a problem with 12 (out of 16) tappet bores. For a few of the problem bores, it seems I could get the tappets to go in a little more if I apply some pressure while twisting, but eventually they just get stuck.

Any ideas? I have coated the tappets themselves with Redline Assembly Lube while I had been regularly coating the block with WD-40 to keep it from rusting. Maybe there is varnish in the tappet bores? Should I use something like Carburetor Cleaner on the bores?

Thanks in advance,

Jerome

The edges of your tappet bores probably got smacked whilst the valve guides were being driven out. You will have to deburr them with a small file or a deburring tool.

Thank you, Ross! That worked!