[DeTomaso] timing chain access and such-UPDATE

[Charles Engles]

Dear Tom,

        In my early years with the Pantera, I would have favored the limited
approach and recommend just pulling the manifold and intake, then make the
appropriate repairs.
        At present, with a *lot* more experience (most of it painful) with
Panteras and Cleveland engines, I would suggest that unless you have a
religious determination to maintain your Cleveland as stock and *not* make
any upgrades or improvements seeking the seductive call of more HP/torque,
that you should pull the poor thing out and proceed to load the money gun
and fix what's broke and upgrade what you like (studies have shown that's
what you'll do anyhow eventually.....).

          Good luck and good wrenching,  Chuck Engles



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Di Iulio" <diiulio at ix.netcom.com>
To: "'Donny Williams'" <donnylee at ccwebster.net>; "'Pantera'"
<detomaso at realbig.com>
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 6:20 PM
Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] timing chain access and such-UPDATE


> "I would also pull the valve covers look to make sure all  pushrods are
> still
> straight and valves intact.   At that you may want to do a compression
> test
> for piece of mind that you still have a healthy engine."
>
> Bingo.....
> I pulled the valve covers and discovered 1 pushrod out of all of 'em
> that is bent. The rod belongs to the driver's side cylinder, 2nd from
> the back of the car (#7?), and is the 1st of the 2 valves (from the back
> of the car) servicing the chamber. Not sure if that's the exhaust or
> intake and I'm not sure if it matters.
> I'm speculating I "dropped a valve", is this correct? With the pushrod
> bent, should I assume valve and/or seat damage and possible piston
> damage as well?
> Am I pulling the engine now for complete disassembly and inspection or
> should I just pull the head and go from there?
> Tom Di Iulio
> Denver, CO
> Ps. I have pulled the timing chain set for replacement. Their condition
> is remarkably good and the timing markers were spot on so I definitely
> did not jump time. (someone should warn village idiots like me that it's
> easier to get the crank gear off once you remove a bit of tension from
> the timing chain!).
>
>
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