Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

[billbayliner]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Yea forget the 8 or 16 stop you cant do that now...

-run the engine to operating temp
-shut off and remove one valve cover
-start engine again, while running at idle, one at a time slowly back off ploy loc until you here distinct clicking/clacking
-slowly tighten until clicking stops


The clicking is slack in the valve train... as you slowly tighten it... at the moment that it is gone you are at zero lash


-then tighten 1/2 turn more and lock the poly lock
-do all eight
-shut it off, replace cover, clean up mess, repeat other side.

If they are too tight, or too loose, you can bend a pushrod (most common), burn a valve, pop a retainer... drop a valve

Joe, he could still do the static 8 stop, but he won't have the benefit of dry and visible.

Greg, I'd do what Joe says since it's now up and running. Joe's explanation is dead on and very clear.
This is called a dynamic procedure or adjustment and is a tried and proven method.

The average SBC cam follower plunger has about .080" to .100" plunger-piston travel within the hydraulic working range, so there's not much margin for error here when setting these.
Regarding Joe explanation about when the clatter goes away [beginning zero lash], the following adjustment is what sets the push rod deeper into the plunger cup, and the end goal is the OEM prescribed plunger depth.

 

[John_S]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Congrads on first fire up.

If you are going to adj the valves go with the running method, as Joe describes.

Was the 2nd video shot at the beginning of the 20 minutes, or near end? If the latter, is that smoke or steam from the starboard exhaust? If it was in the beginning, you are probably still burning off assembly lube, etc.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Congrads on first fire up.

If you are going to adj the valves go with the running method, as Joe describes.

Was the 2nd video shot at the beginning of the 20 minutes, or near end? If the latter, is that smoke or steam from the starboard exhaust? If it was in the beginning, you are probably still burning off assembly lube, etc.

Thanks John. I plan to use the running method to adjust the valves this week. The video was in the beginning of the 20 minutes, although I noticed that that smoke/steam was only coming form the 2-4-6-8 bank (right bank? not sure which side that is). I'm not sure if it was because there was just more water flowing through the other bank, or if something else was causing the smoke. I doubt it was steam. The engine temperature was normal (155 or so) and the water coming out of the exhaust was pretty cool. I did use the white assembly grease on the recommendation of the builder I worked with, so it may still be burning that off.

 

[John_S]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Yea, that the even cyl side. If steam, was thinking you might have a leak from elbow/exhaust gasket and some water running back into the exhaust/cylinders.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Yea, that the even cyl side. If steam, was thinking you might have a leak from elbow/exhaust gasket and some water running back into the exhaust/cylinders.

I actually used the Sierra riser gaskets because it was all I had.. so I suppose that's possible. I'll pull the plugs and check for signs of water. I plan on getting rid of those gaskets and switching to the mercruiser ones when I actually use the boat, assuming I keep the exhaust manifolds. I've always been told to use nothing but the grey mercruiser gaskets with the stainless core.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

You have did a great job so far...Yes you have something going on the steam kicking is very indicitive and the pulse of the engine....at 2000 it should sound like smooth butter. Go see a pro protect you money.

 

[sjohnson44]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Not sure if you know about them or not, but they make a sort of "plug" that plugs off your pushrod so oil wont splatter every where. I saw it at Oreillys in their tool section for around $6. Not sure if they work, and cant find anything online about them, but I had planned on trying them.

Good luck, Im right with ya on being done with mine lol

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Not sure if you know about them or not, but they make a sort of "plug" that plugs off your pushrod so oil wont splatter every where. I saw it at Oreillys in their tool section for around $6. Not sure if they work, and cant find anything online about them, but I had planned on trying them.

Good luck, Im right with ya on being done with mine lol

They make several types... however i have never seen one that works on a full roller rocker like Greg/OP has.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I did a compression test today just to make sure everything was alright. 7 of the cylinders read from 170-180 psi but the #1 cylinder was down at 150 psi. I tried it twice and got the same reading both times. The engine was cold and it hasn't broken in yet - I haven't run it since the last video I posted. I am planning to put the engine in the boat tomorrow so I just want to make sure I don't have anything to worry about. I've heard that if the cylinders are within 10% of each other, it's normal, but 15-30 psi is more like a 10-20% difference depending on which cylinder it's compared to. Is this alright? I assume the compression will go up slightly after break in.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

with a new engine, they should all be really close. put a bit of oil in the cylinder and re-check. if the reading jumps up, your rings have not set. if the reading stays low, you may have a valve leak

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Run it for a bit first. It could be that the valves were sitting open on that cylinder for the two weeks is has been from the last time you ran it. Might just have a little rust on the seats. Don't panic yet! Did you ever reset the valves?

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Run it for a bit first. It could be that the valves were sitting open on that cylinder for the two weeks is has been from the last time you ran it. Might just have a little rust on the seats. Don't panic yet! Did you ever reset the valves?

I haven't touched the valves yet. I called the builder I worked with and told him how I set them initially, and he said to leave them for now, and that I'd be able to tell if it wasn't running right when I'm on the water. He also said that you could turn the lock nuts 1.5 turns past zero lash before they start to hold the valves open.

I'll run the engine for a few hours on the water and then recheck the compression. I also didn't do it with the engine warm like most sets of instructions say to do.

 

[Speakrdude]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I recently purchased some of those $6.00 (white) clip on oil plugs for the rocker arms from Oreilly Automotive.
They work great.......until you put the socket on the nut, Then the white part of the plug hits the socket, slips sideways, and oil squirts everywhere!

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I haven't touched the valves yet. I called the builder I worked with and told him how I set them initially, and he said to leave them for now, and that I'd be able to tell if it wasn't running right when I'm on the water. He also said that you could turn the lock nuts 1.5 turns past zero lash before they start to hold the valves open.

I'll run the engine for a few hours on the water and then recheck the compression. I also didn't do it with the engine warm like most sets of instructions say to do.

Yea, its not the amount of turns that people get wrong... its actually finding Zero lash and actually being on the heel of the cam lobe. You can actually tune the power band a little bit by varying the amount of turns. That's why an engine with the lash different from valve to valve will sound a little out of tune. Not uncommon for folks to use 1/8 or a 1/4 when looking for max power output. Ive seen 15 to 20 hp change on a dyno from getting the valves set properly on an engine that most would have left alone.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I recently purchased some of those $6.00 (white) clip on oil plugs for the rocker arms from Oreilly Automotive.
They work great.......until you put the socket on the nut, Then the white part of the plug hits the socket, slips sideways, and oil squirts everywhere!

I have never seen clips that work on full roller rockers, they must be new.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

I'll probably see how the engine runs the way it is and then go back and reset the valves later on. I may even take it to a professional to have it done. I certainly wouldn't mind a potential 15 horsepower increase...

On another note, I got the engine back into the boat today and it lined right up. I didn't have to make a single adjustment - the alignment bar slid right in easily and out with barely any force. I turned it 90 degrees twice and rechecked just to make sure, and it lined right up. I'm glad I didn't take apart the front motor mounts last fall. I also have about 6 inches above the carb to work with so I can get a big non-restricting flame arrestor.

I gave my mother my iPhone and asked her to take some pictures while I maneuvered the engine around, and for some reason she thought the home button was the picture button and kept pressing it thinking she was taking pictures. Needless to say, I don't have any photos of it going in - sorry guys. Here's all I have:

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Looks pretty snazzy, love that blue. Plenty of room for a big K&N filter.

 

[greg82255]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Looks pretty snazzy, love that blue. Plenty of room for a big K&N filter.

Thanks Joe. If only I could find some CMI headers to go with it...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

do you need CMI's number? they sell alot thru Teague marine

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Here We Go: My 383 Stroker Winter Project

Thanks Joe. If only I could find some CMI headers to go with it...

Keep looking they will turn up. Make a want add for craigslist with tons of key words and what you are looking for in the title. I have sold quite a bit of performance related stuff on craigslist lately. Its getting more and more traffic. They do have lots of scammers on there so beware. Also use Allofcraigs.com to search.

Good luck!