Any Shade Tree Mechanics Out There?

[branch37]

Ok I was going to post pictures but I can't log into the bbs on my pc for some reason.

First interesting development. I discovered that 351W parts fit very well on a Ford 360. Turns out I have a 360. Not a 351w like I thought. I found this out while looking for valve cover gaskets.

Now the second, and potentially bad development. I was driving during my lunch break I fired it up and on the first crank heard a bang rattle rattle rattle. 2 stuck valves and bent push rods. No idea why the valves would decide to stick now. I can hit them with a rubber hammer and they will free up but will be stuck again 10 minutes or so later. The other way I discovered that I have a 360 is that 351w push rods are too short.


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[SIK1]

Well you don't have to worry about the vacuum leak now. 

The valve probably stuck because the truck didn't get regular oil changes and then sat for many years. Are the two stuck valves on the same cylinder or on different cylinders? Sticky valves in an FE series is a scary proposition. They can and will eat valves. I've killed two, both high mileage 390s. Both hit a piston with the intake valve. One was a long way from home.
I actually have a low mileage 390 sitting in an old f250 out back. That's the last truck I've owned with spark plugs.
Be forewarned if you decide to pull the heads the cast iron intake manifold weighs a ton. Get someone to help or use a cherry picker. The heads aren't exactly light either.

 
Sik

[branch37]

Update:

Now firing on all 8 cylinders. Still having the previous problem. A reasonably competent mechanic and myself looked over the engine and transmission for hours today and could not find a vacuum leak. I'm starting to think the carb is wrong. We adjusted it every way we could with no results.


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[8thJinx]

It still sounds like an exhaust back pressure thing to me.   

[branch37]

If the exhaust was blocked would it run with the choke closed?


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[Shuffler]

I quit replying when I saw what he was up against. This is a pure hands on venture. One needs to have the vehicle available to hear and see what it is doing to troubleshoot. We are just making best guesses otherwise.

Running the engine could be causing damage we can't detect on the boards.

[morfiend]

Check the ERG valve,they are known to go bad,build up carbon and if they sat for awhile it's likely stuck! It's a silly thing anyways,meant to pump exhaust gas back into engine through intake man to supposedly help with pollution......

  I had an early crown vic and it had a 302 that just wouldnt run unless the EGR functioned properly,of course it had an early variable venturi carb that was a piece of well you know!


  If the egr is stuck open it could cause the lean condition,which closing the choke would help.Either block it off or make sure it works!


   

[branch37]

Could I take the carb off and remove the entire EGR valve plate and close off the hole in the manifold for the exhaust gas?


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[earl1937]

If the exhaust was blocked would it run with the choke closed?


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I had a 1946 Ford at one time in early 50's and it was doing same thing! A "valve" job cured all the engine problems. Before the valve job, it would only run at idle or wide open, but not in between. Was very interesting trying to "date" in this thing! Girl sitting by me and floor shift knob and me having to constantly change gears, well, I got "slapped" more than once!

[morfiend]

Could I take the carb off and remove the entire EGR valve plate and close off the hole in the manifold for the exhaust gas?


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  Ya I beleive Wezel already pointed that out!


  That said,if you have valves that are stuck/sticking I wouldnt run the engine until you resolve that issue. Since you're in so deep,I'd pull the intake and heads,ya it means new gaskets etc. but it beats bending a valve and possibly breaking a piston or 2!!!


  I would start with a good engine degrease,powerwash the motor and then start the tear down. Be sure to bag the distributor,I always used a large plastic baggy of the freezer type to help keep most of the water out.


  Have fun!


   

[WEZEL]

  I had an early crown vic and it had a 302 that just wouldnt run unless the EGR functioned properly,of course it had an early variable venturi carb that was a piece of well you know

morfiend comes out swinging.... A VV carb thats another thing I havent seen or heard of in years.....[second time you made me feel old]still got the tools to set them up after a rebuild............. them hunks of junk.

[cattb]

Also that engine has sat a long time, its mechanical fuel pump and how is the fuel pressure? Your seals and gaskets will no be that great. also the oil prolly not so good, the oil sump has a screen and if you get it running I would change the oil couple times. If you get sludge and crap on the sump screen it will restrict the oil flow. Now you have bent pushrods, if it were me and which I have a cherry picker and engine stand, I would just remove the engine, but then that's me. Lots of working room in those old fords.
I don't know how your equipped with tools.
If the exhaust was plugged it would run for awhile then quit.
Even if you have it running on all 8 cylinders the valve issue would have me very concerned. Specially if that is a interference engine.(sounds like it is)
The heads and intake are heavy, I was setting a head down and my foot hit a bump in the concrete I slipped alittle and caught my thumb. So I put a bandage on and finished up what I was doing and cleaned up for the night. Then I went to the hospital and they cleaned, stuffed the meat and stuff back in my thumb and sewed it up couple stiches.

[branch37]

Also that engine has sat a long time, its mechanical fuel pump and how is the fuel pressure? Your seals and gaskets will no be that great. also the oil prolly not so good, the oil sump has a screen and if you get it running I would change the oil couple times. If you get sludge and crap on the sump screen it will restrict the oil flow. Now you have bent pushrods, if it were me and which I have a cherry picker and engine stand, I would just remove the engine, but then that's me. Lots of working room in those old fords.
I don't know how your equipped with tools.
If the exhaust was plugged it would run for awhile then quit.
Even if you have it running on all 8 cylinders the valve issue would have me very concerned. Specially if that is a interference engine.(sounds like it is)
The heads and intake are heavy, I was setting a head down and my foot hit a bump in the concrete I slipped alittle and caught my thumb. So I put a bandage on and finished up what I was doing and cleaned up for the night. Then I went to the hospital and they cleaned, stuffed the meat and stuff back in my thumb and sewed it up couple stiches.

In the process of removing the heads now.  I have to take the intake manifold off first and am waiting on an extra hand.  Yall werent kidding when yall said it was heavy.

[morfiend]

morfiend comes out swinging.... A VV carb thats another thing I havent seen or heard of in years.....[second time you made me feel old]still got the tools to set them up after a rebuild............. them hunks of junk.

 Take a gues at which tranny the crown vic had.........


  Atleast it was a coupe!


   

[icepac]

C6