Re: Frenching the Piston American style

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

At 07:25 AM 9/10/2005 -0400, you wrote:
> To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
> Subject: Squiggly push rods
>
> I stopped by the machine shop this morning to check on the status of
> my wagon's engine and I got the low down on what was making all the
> racket.
>
> All of the intake valves at one point or another decided to give the
> pistons a little kiss. One of them was apparently feeling a little
> more amorous than the rest and kissed the piston hard enough to
> result
> in a slightly S shaped push rod.
> --------------------------------
> Goes without saying your valve guides may or may
> not be a new shape.
>
> New valve springs and dampners will stop all that
> touchey-feeley action in short order.

I spoke with the friend I got it from (mostly to harass him since it 
happened while he had it) and after it had been sitting for a while, he had 
trouble starting it (engine wouldn't turn over). The next weekend, he was 
able to start it but it ran rough for a few minutes and was making the same 
racket I heard after I got it running again. My guess is the valves were 
sticking on it from sitting and after a few love taps from the pistons, got 
freed up.

I don't remember what the machine shop said about the valve guides but the 
springs checked out okay and the valves were okay after a basic valve job. 
This shop is one of the few places I trust 100% with my car stuff so I'm 
sure they would replace them if they were bad.

Matt


mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
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