I just had my motor rebuilt. It has about 150 miles on it.
While driving it I herd a very bad noise in the motor.
I turned around to head home and the noise went away.
I removed a valve cover on the odd side and found one of the push rods missing!!!!!! The guide plate was broken, rocker just flopping around. I am sick over this. I contacted the builder and he said he will fit it. We will see.
How can this even happen? How did the push rod get past the lifter? What kind of damage can I expect? WTF!!!!!!
The motor is a 71 455 with 6X-4 heads. It is a roller motor with a roller cam, roller lifters and roller rockers.
Any advise would be a great help. My sick just writing this.

well, sounds like the builder will stand by his work....wait until he`s checked it out

Sounds like he didnt lash the lifters correctly.
Push rod is either lay'n in lifter valley...or ground up by cam and crank and lay'n bottom of oil pan.

Hey Warrior

Can you explain what "lash the lifters" means?

Thanks

on a roller cam the lifters need to be adjusted... and adjusted sorta often to have them tight enough, but not too tight.. its done with a feeler gage, sorta like gaping your plugs

after cam brakin, they should be rechecked.. after 500 miles (inital) then i'd check them every oil change..

google valve lash adjustment roller cam.. your cam manufacter proley has instructions on how they want it



hydrolic flat tappit have give in them, so you make them snug and add 1/4 turn or whatever it supposed to be.

Depends on if it's a solid roller or a hyd roller. More than likely the pushrod is laying in the lifter valley. They rarely end up in the oil pan, at least not in one piece. Probably just have to retrieve it and put it back on and you'll be good to go. At least that's what your builder is hoping for. Odd that the guide plate broke though.

Hows the rocker trunnion and rollr tip feel and look?

They seem to be fine but I did'nt take a real close look.
The builder will be comming to my house to check the damage.
I will get a good look when he takes it apart.

Wow, a builder that makes house calls!!!!!

Update.
Builder is going to skip the house call and just send a truck to
bring it back to his shop. It was just going to end up there
anyway. I will let you know what happens.

sounds like he`ll be standing by his work....

You're builder has choices. He can say it was a part failure or he can say it was a builder error. Or both. I would want to be there when it comes apart, with a camera.

Update:
The builder sent a flat bed over to pick up the car last Tuesday.
Wednesday he tore it down and found he screwed up and installed the wrong push rods. No other damage except the one push rod and the guide plate. He got the correct parts shipped to him over night. checked everything and I had the car back on Saturday.
He admitted he screwed up, took care of everything and made it right. He said if I ever have a problem with the motor he will take care of it. Thats all I can ask for. I am happy.

David

sounds good! lets hear how it runs after you get it back!

Wow nice guy. Make sure you add him to Angie's List