Valve Adjustment Help...I think I messed up

After the break in run on my new 477 and a subsequent run I knew I had a couple of roller rockers not adjusted properly due to tapping.
I went through and found that most of the rocker arms seemed loose. Like an idiot, I re-adjusted the valves (standard tighten to no play and 1/2 turn. When I went back and checked valves I adjusted first, they were loose again. I then dawned on me that the lifters were not pumped up sufficiently.

What is the best way to correct the situation as I do not want to fire it up again and risk damaging valves.

FYI- Hydrolic flat tappet Comp X-treme Energy Cam and lifters, double springs, Scorpian Roller Rockers

it's not the valves that get damage , but cam and lifters.

they may get loose again if the cam is goen down.hope that's not your problem but that's been a big issue with flat cams.

How did you break it in and did you use synthetic oil, if so then did you use a zinc additive

OK, have me even more afraid.
Although, they seemed to loosen back up without running the engine again so believe the lifters just compressed more.
I adjusted the valves during assembly using the Intake/Exhaust method.
Used Comp cams break in additive with good quality petroleum based oil as they recommended.
Engine fired up immediately after one half rotation, brought it up to 1500 rpm and varied between that and 2000 for about 40 minutes. Temp got up to 200 so I idled it down for shut down. Full cool down, fired again running again between the same rpm range then full cool down.

I don't know, you used good oil but I don't usually break in a cam at that rpm. BUT in the papers that came with our one cam it said something similar to that. It has to be something else because they loosen without running. You might want to pull the intake and have a peeky peeky just to be on the safe side and to try tracking it down. You might find out what the problem is and I would pull a couple lifters to see if they are worn and/or compressed.

This might not need to be done, someone else might come up with a crazy answer as to why this is happening.

I am wondering if he put the oil plug in the oil galley in the wrong place to cut the oil to the lifter bores?



Randy

Or maybe, I don't know if these are the plugs, but maybe he put flat plugs in place of the OEM tapered galley plugs? Why would that cause it to do that though, and why would it last through the break in without showing any signs?

just throwing out ideas I can't see it from here my super power vision is not working today.....but isn't that what I just said?
I suggest he remove the distributor and put a drill on the oil pump shaft and pressure it up and see if he has any oil flow to the top end....



Randy

Oh sorry there Randy, I thought you meant something else. Never mind then. At least we were thinking on the same page....

Proof.....the Coug thinks like a 16 yr old.










sorry Justin

whatbumper wrote:Proof.....the Coug thinks like a 16 yr old.










sorry Justin

I know your just kidding.

72GTSNCode wrote:OK, have me even more afraid.
Although, they seemed to loosen back up without running the engine again so believe the lifters just compressed more.
I adjusted the valves during assembly using the Intake/Exhaust method.
Used Comp cams break in additive with good quality petroleum based oil as they recommended.
Engine fired up immediately after one half rotation, brought it up to 1500 rpm and varied between that and 2000 for about 40 minutes. Temp got up to 200 so I idled it down for shut down. Full cool down, fired again running again between the same rpm range then full cool down.

I have always heard that during break-in, the rpms should be between 2000-2500 and varying up and down for the purpose of getting oil slash on the cam to help lube it as well as cool all that friction heat.
When I break in an engine, once the engine starts I do not stop it for 25-30 minutes and have a garden hose ready by the radiator to cool it down if the fan doesn't keep it cool enough.

Also, you mentioned double springs in the first post.
Is it a single w/a damper or double springs ?
If they are double springs, the inner springs should have been taken out for the break-in.

Might want to take that intake off and take a looksee.......

I always break in my cams for 30 minutes or more, 2,000-2,500 rpms with Valvoline VR-1 high zinc formula oil or synthetic with an additive. Maybe the lobes have worn as well as the lifters. But you would have had it backfiring through the intake if that happened as well as a bent push rod or two. Couldn't hurt to pull the intake off and see.

I break my cams in 2500 rpm for 60 minutes.... just like the old cam cards said.....


Randy