So after my rebuild I'm about 2500 miles on the motor with an oil change and a compression test. My number scame back with 165,165, 175,175. This was with the throttle closed and the engine wasn't really warm, but more like 100deg warm. I'm running ported head with je's 8.8:1 20 over pistons and je rings. The compression numbers seema alright to me.

My vacuum is sitting at about 15-16.5 at idle on a warm motor. Doesn't hesitate, did the ol leak tester and even blew smoke from a black and mild into the line to see where it comes out. It was coming out of my pcv breather filter on my valve cover.

I'm getting a quiet ticking around my #1 and maybe #2 valvtrain on the intake side. These are the two cylinders also with the lwoer compression numbers. I don't have the means right now for a leak down test.

The last thing is that I realized yesterday after doing some more reading that when I was reassembling my head I didn't compress the lash adjusters to drain the oil out of them.

So here's what I'm thinking, tell me if you guys agree...
One or more of the adjusters ont eh intake side is not adjusted correctly and is sitting too high in it's seat or too low causeing the valve to not fully close ont he intake side by those two cylinders causeing vacuum to leak out into my valve cover and out the pcv breather line. I know it is supposed to vent off some, but all ofd the smoke was coming out of the breather when I blew it in.

So I need to replace all of the adjusters and might as well do the rockers with pt ones from howell, or whomever.

Anyone agree?
If so, this sucks cause messing with timing on a otor already in is going to be a bitch!

Thanks-

Anyone have any other ideas, or am I on the right track that maybe a few of my lifters have collapsed??

Help please

A collapsed lifter will cause the valve to not open as far as it ought, and the lifter will settle if it somehow had too much oil in it. The lifter may be the tick, but it is not the cause of the lower compression numbers. Likely worn rings.

worn rings with 2500 miles? The low vacuum as been since first start up. it fluctuates a little from day to day. It might be at 17.5 after warmup one day, then 15.5 the next. I haven't pushed more than about 12lbs on it with a good afr the whole time.

Originally posted by Locke_db
A collapsed lifter will cause the valve to not open as far as it ought, and the lifter will settle if it somehow had too much oil in it. The lifter may be the tick, but it is not the cause of the lower compression numbers. Likely worn rings.

Correct on the lifter. They open the valves, while your springs snap them shut. This is why you need upgraded springs when going with an aggressive cam grind - you're trying to avoid float.

Considering how hydraulic lifters are supposed to have oil in them in order to operate, I've never bled them like that. In fact, prior to installation, I placed them all in a bowl of fresh Mobil 1 over night, then worked them around a bit while submerged just before install to be sure they were lubed up.

Are these brand new lifters? If not, how did you store them prior to installation? Come to think of it, could be slight carbon build up on the valves too. A leak down is certainly in order.

EDIT:
And if this is the same Locke I know from DSMtuners, I'm glad to see you posting over here too. You know your shit. :thumbsup

Originally posted by DR1665
EDIT: And if this is the same Locke I know from DSMtuners, I'm glad to see you posting over here too. You know your shit. :thumbsup

Yeap, thats me. Some bastard had already taken my usual username when I signed up here. I would post here more often, but I cannot navigate this forum intuitively. I am figuring it out, though.

I beleive they were sitting on a table in my garage for three months waiting on howell witht he rest of my rebuild parts. Origional lifters from the car with 58k miles on them. So they pry bled all of their oil out in three months sitting on a table top. I didn't realize there was more to them. I kinda figured they were solid posts! Oh well. Before putting them in I coated them with fresh mobil 1.

So sounds like I need to do a leak down test on the motor to try to narrow it down a bit. I was thinking of trying to check my timing again before I get too crazy tearing my motor apart.

Head was cleaned and new valve seals by my machine shop. The bottom end was assembled by the machine shop. They did the bedplate to block, pistons, rings and connecting rods.

I wish I would have done the trick to check timing with the flywheel on. I find it hard to believe that my rings are bad or didn't seat right. It seems like my vacuum is getting worse. I was at 15-15.5 today coming home at idle.

I'm running stock cams too by the way driggs.

So, one day it will be fine like today, at 18 at vacuum, runs great, then the next like yesterday it was at 15. WTF?