[DeTomaso] timing chain access and such-UPDATE

[Donny Williams]

Tom-

It may be a freak thing were you over-revved and maybe floated a valve that 
got kissed by a piston or just a pushrod no longer up to the task.  Pushrods 
are made to be the weakest link in the valve train for a reason.   If all 
your valve spring heights are the same your probably fine.   The compression 
check with a new pushrod would have verified if you needed to go any deeper. 
Its a 50/50 on whether you have a bent valve.

But based on how hard your driving this engine.  It may be time to get rid 
of the two piece valves in the stock engine.  They have a bad reputation for 
letting loose.   That might be one upgrade I would reccomend.  And perhaps 
install that performance oriented cam with some good matching springs.    So 
it sounds as though your willing to freshen up the top end, that is what I 
would do.

If your pulling the engine out, its a good time to take a look at the bottom 
end condition at this point.   If bearings are real bad, then I would go 
ahead and just freshen your entire engine.

PS   You can tell an exhaust valve from an intake on the cylinder very 
easily.   The valve located closest to the exhaust port is an exhaust valve. 
The Valve closest to the Intake port on the intake manifold is an Intake 
valve.  Make sense?


Keep us posted on your findings!

Donny



----- 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 4:20 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!).
>
>
>
>