To cam or not to cam? 4.0 OHV

[Brandon96]

Got my fingers crossed for yah buddy!

I've got a bunch of leftover parts, basically an entire OHV motor.. let me know if you need anything I might have it.

 

[Dono]

Picked up the heads. $350.00
Here's the comments on the si valves from the machine shop:
The Good:
Stainless steel swirl polished valves usually cost twice of what we are paying.
The bad:
They gave the heads a 3 angle valve job, decked the heads and installed the valves. Then they did a vacuum test on each head. The valves leaked pretty bad around the seats. Each valve's tolerances were not very consistent and needed to be machined.

The good news is that the si valves are great valves at a great price, as long as a machine shop checks the valves tolerances.

The machinist commented that my motor would have run kinda rough had the valves not been fixed up. That definitely wouldn't have helped my efficient motor.

I now know I have heads that the valves seal really well.

 

[jd4242]

Yep all ways good to have them tested.normally si valves are very good it normally the seat that is not in spec.stainless is very tough many shops will fit the seats before messing with the valves.good you had it tested.a little money up front all ways pays off in the endif this dont do it then you know where your problem is;(

 

[Dono]

I'm up and running!
Motor idles smooth as silk.
I was up till 1:30 am and fired her up. Shook like **** and backfiring. I reminded myself I was tired and did something stupid. Checked the plug wires at the coil pack, and bingo!!! I reversed a couple wires. Quick fix.

I'll do an oil change tonight, and I should be good to go for the winter.

Power? To soon to tell. I'll let things seat before I really get on it. It's snowy and slippery on the roads today. Winters here.

The machine shop did the 3 angle valve job first, then messed with the valves. I'm happy with the work the machine shop did, definitely worth the money. It's still a lot of labor to change heads. Quick to take apart, but it takes time to put together, making sure everything is seated.

I can tell my lower intake sits higher now. Shaving more than .020 off the heads would definitely require some lower intake shaving also.

 

[jd4242]

Hell yea hope all stays good

 

[Dono]

Well, motors never been quieter. The main thing I hear is the ticking of injectors. Im pretty happy about that.

Few small nagging issues. Passenger valve cover is leaking a bit again. I think I'll wait till I get the rocker spacers before I pull that apart and fix.

coolant leak. New radiator. Leak was getting pretty bad. I took it to the rad shop to look at and they looked at it and said 'Yup, pull it and bring it in'. So they pressure test the thing with compressed air in a tank, and not a bubble. Nothing. WTF?
I put the radiator back on, and no leak so far. Demons? PITA.

Anyway, these are small issues. I'm a happy guy.

 

[jd4242]

witch rockers did you end up using

 

[Dono]

I bought some off ebay before I went with the Delta's. A few months ago I pulled the Delta's and installed the ebay rockers. When I pulled the Delta's, they showed all kinds of abnormal wear.
The ebay rockers showed no signs of wear at all when I pulled them for my head change. I re-used them.
I have a feeling that my push rods may have been a bit short. The head shave took care of that. It will be interesting to install the rocker spacers and see how quiet the top end can get.

 

[jd4242]

Yea im not impressed with them at all.

 

[Dono]

The guy advertised that they were ford oem rocker assemblies. Maybe they are??
They are standing up quite nicely though.

 

[jd4242]

Could be.you done any compression testing yet?any noticeable power increase or mileage?

 

[Dono]

I think I'll pop a plug this weekend and at least compression test one cylinder.
Mileage is way better already. Too soon to tell. Also, the computer has some learning to do. First tank after having my battery pulled is always crappy.

No engine misfire codes anymore. Idle is smooth. Honestly, the engine shake before was terrible. Whole truck shook.
I'm interested in the compression test. I'll pick a cylinder that was at 90. Considering my best cylinder was at 150, we will see.

 

[Xeek]

rocker spacers? that may be a solution to my crappy lifters

 

[jd4242]

rocker spacers? that may be a solution to my crappy lifters

Umm no they are rocker spacers,has nothing to do with lifters

 

[Xeek]

depends. hes talking like they push the rockers closer to the pushrods. if so, with them i could do the same and maybe shut up my bad lifter.
all depends on where they go. or it may not work


edit: nevermind. i googled it, even got donos thread with the pictures in the results lol
yea, those deff wouldnt 'band-aid' my lifters

 

[jd4242]

depends. hes talking like they push the rockers closer to the pushrods. if so, with them i could do the same and maybe shut up my bad lifter.
all depends on where they go. or it may not work


edit: nevermind. i googled it, even got donos thread with the pictures in the results lol
yea, those deff wouldnt 'band-aid' my lifters

Yep

 

[Dono]

So, I did a compression test on a couple of cylinders. Dissapointing at best.

No appreciable increase. 150 is still the standard. My work fixed the two low cylinders, but I was hoping that shaving the heads would show an increase in static compression.

 

[Dono]

Serry Xeek. I guess I wasn't clear when I typed about the rocker spacers. I don't think they will fix much, but kinda cool.

 

[jd4242]

Well if your lucky the shaving only increased it about .3:1 so doubt you would be able to measure that.it will make it more efficient though witch you may see in the long run,add in the 15% flow increase with the valves and p+p and it may pay off but biggest thing its running good now

 

[Xeek]

glad to hear it went well with your build and everythings good now. makes me wish i took my time on mine