need engine help PLEAsE!! crisis - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

hjalbert · 10-17-2002, 09:08 PM

well, i was going to put new plugs, wires and all in the suburban, and went about doing this, while i was at it, i was going to adjust the rockers, one was lose and being annoying.i did that first, pur in new plugs, and wires.i went to crank it up and it turned over real fast but didnt fire, then i realied thatr i hadnt reconnected the positive lead to the dizzy. so i did that, and then when it fired i had a mettalic griinding noise., now, i tightened these rocker arms the way that chiltons said to, and that is to put it on number one, and tigten it till its harder to spin the ...lifter(think thats wahat its calle, or a push rod??), then do the ones for number one, and then to turn the crank 360 degrees and do the oens for those. and when i loojked and checked again, the number three exhaust one was lose, so i tightened it up again, and still have a mettalic noise whenever i try and start the truck, but if i disconnect the pso lead to the dizzy, it spins over just fine, no metal sound, i wonder what i could have done wrong?????? could overly tight rockers cause that? also, anyone know which feeler guage to use, and how to do it? it would seem to me to be more accurate then theri way. thanks alot, this is a crisis!

matt67350 · 10-17-2002, 09:29 PM

Did you check #1 piston for compression stroke?
Chevy have 720*of timing.

hjalbert · 10-17-2002, 09:37 PM

yes, i set it on number one with the cap off the dizzy, while turning the ballancer to set it, i just thought of something though, while i was turning the balancer, it tighted that nuut on there signifigantly more then it was, i wonder if this possibly is supposed to be set to a particular torgues setting? any one know if this could have dont it?

Truck Hippy · 10-17-2002, 09:48 PM

Hey. Rocker arm adjustment is no problem. Is it a "grinding" sound or a loud "clicking" sound? I don't know if they would make a "grinding" sound if the rockers were out of adjustment. Well first off i would make sure they were not to tight. Back each one off just a little if your not sure. Then with a 5/8 ratchet/socket ready and a rag, start the truck and begin from the front and work your way back and do one side at a time. Leave the other valve cover on while you do the other side. Now loosen the adjustment nut until you hear a loud "clicking" sound from the one your working on. You will be able to tell a change in sound. Then slowly tighten the nut until the clicking stops. Again you will be able to tell the differance in sound. The when it stops clicking, tighten the adjustment nut 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn. Do this SLOWLY. Then do this 15 more times and your done. Becareful of the hot oil. This is for hydaulic lifters only. Solid lifters are different. With soild lifters, you have to adjust them with the motor off. Just turn the motor over until the cam is on its base circle for the rocker that you want to adjust. Then just slide the feeler gauge in between the valve tip and the rocker arm and tighten or loosen the nut until the feeler gauge fits "snug" between the stem and rocker arm. Thats all there is to it. I hope you get it worked out.

matt67350 · 10-17-2002, 09:53 PM

65 ft lbs on the balancer bolt.
Check everything twice sometime this takes awhile.

Pull the plug on #1 and turn the motor over to feel for the compression and watch the rocker on #1, the exhaust will dip
then the intake will dip then the piston should be coming to TDC.

Then look at the dizzy location and see if it's where it's should be.

crazy longhorn · 10-17-2002, 09:57 PM

Truck Hippy has you covered on the running adjustment. To add a little, if you cut a "window" in the top of an old set of covers, you can make that running adjustment with no oil mess. they are also cool conversation pcs to have hanging on the wall.......you wouldnt beleive how many guys have asked "what the hell can you use them for"! good luck.....crazy longhorn

Alaskan · 10-17-2002, 10:00 PM

Kinda sounds like the starter is not disengaging completly.

crazy longhorn · 10-17-2002, 10:07 PM

I used a die grinder to cut the holes, but you could drill 4 holes for corners & cut with snips. all you need is enough to expose the nuts, & as long as you are @ idle, the oil stays in the eng.

Truck Hippy · 10-17-2002, 10:12 PM

Yea, those valve covers with the top cut out are a very good idea.

hjalbert · 10-17-2002, 10:16 PM

thanks for the answers, ive used the cut out one before, and ive adjusted rocker arms many times, everytime ebfore this ive done it with them running. thats why im so freaked out, i cant wait till tommorow, guranteed ill be covered in grease, but i will get it taken care of, now that i think of it, what could have gone wrong? the engine wasnt running, and hasnt run so it couldnt be much, hpoefully anyway, at worst, ill have to take the engine out of the gmc and put it in the burb, and then when i am done with all the body work to the gmc, ill get a new motor for it. thanks

Truck Hippy · 10-17-2002, 10:18 PM

Hey. I forgot to add that if any of the adjustment nuts are kinda easy to turn, you may want to replace them. They are self-locking nuts from the factory and they are that way to hold the correct adjustment. The balancer bolt should make any difference. Good luck!

10-17-2002, 09:29 PM	#2
matt67350 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Benbrook, TX Posts: 1,060	Did you check #1 piston for compression stroke? Chevy have 720*of timing. __________________ 69 swb stepside, rebuild and upgrade in progress

10-17-2002, 09:37 PM	#3
hjalbert cracker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 1,021	yes, i set it on number one with the cap off the dizzy, while turning the ballancer to set it, i just thought of something though, while i was turning the balancer, it tighted that nuut on there signifigantly more then it was, i wonder if this possibly is supposed to be set to a particular torgues setting? any one know if this could have dont it? __________________ FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB Harry John Albert III located in Phoenix, AZ 1972 GMC JIMMY, 1969 lwb Chevy Frame, 1999 bmw k1200 ltc 1992 Kawasaki concours 1991 bmw k75 1973 cortez motorhome

10-17-2002, 09:53 PM	#5
matt67350 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: Benbrook, TX Posts: 1,060	65 ft lbs on the balancer bolt. Check everything twice sometime this takes awhile. Pull the plug on #1 and turn the motor over to feel for the compression and watch the rocker on #1, the exhaust will dip then the intake will dip then the piston should be coming to TDC. Then look at the dizzy location and see if it's where it's should be. __________________ 69 swb stepside, rebuild and upgrade in progress

10-17-2002, 10:00 PM	#7
Alaskan Truck'n the alcan Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Houston, AK Posts: 149	Kinda sounds like the starter is not disengaging completly. __________________ 68 GMC 4x4 71 C20 Custom Deluxe 83 1/2 ton conversion van

10-17-2002, 10:16 PM	#10
hjalbert cracker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 1,021	thanks for the answers, ive used the cut out one before, and ive adjusted rocker arms many times, everytime ebfore this ive done it with them running. thats why im so freaked out, i cant wait till tommorow, guranteed ill be covered in grease, but i will get it taken care of, now that i think of it, what could have gone wrong? the engine wasnt running, and hasnt run so it couldnt be much, hpoefully anyway, at worst, ill have to take the engine out of the gmc and put it in the burb, and then when i am done with all the body work to the gmc, ill get a new motor for it. thanks __________________ FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB Harry John Albert III located in Phoenix, AZ 1972 GMC JIMMY, 1969 lwb Chevy Frame, 1999 bmw k1200 ltc 1992 Kawasaki concours 1991 bmw k75 1973 cortez motorhome

10-17-2002, 09:08 PM	#1
hjalbert cracker Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 1,021	need engine help PLEAsE!! crisis well, i was going to put new plugs, wires and all in the suburban, and went about doing this, while i was at it, i was going to adjust the rockers, one was lose and being annoying.i did that first, pur in new plugs, and wires.i went to crank it up and it turned over real fast but didnt fire, then i realied thatr i hadnt reconnected the positive lead to the dizzy. so i did that, and then when it fired i had a mettalic griinding noise., now, i tightened these rocker arms the way that chiltons said to, and that is to put it on number one, and tigten it till its harder to spin the ...lifter(think thats wahat its calle, or a push rod??), then do the ones for number one, and then to turn the crank 360 degrees and do the oens for those. and when i loojked and checked again, the number three exhaust one was lose, so i tightened it up again, and still have a mettalic noise whenever i try and start the truck, but if i disconnect the pso lead to the dizzy, it spins over just fine, no metal sound, i wonder what i could have done wrong?????? could overly tight rockers cause that? also, anyone know which feeler guage to use, and how to do it? it would seem to me to be more accurate then theri way. thanks alot, this is a crisis! __________________ FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE DRUM BRAKE CLUB Harry John Albert III located in Phoenix, AZ 1972 GMC JIMMY, 1969 lwb Chevy Frame, 1999 bmw k1200 ltc 1992 Kawasaki concours 1991 bmw k75 1973 cortez motorhome

10-17-2002, 09:48 PM	#4
Truck Hippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Hickory, NC. Posts: 776	Hey. Rocker arm adjustment is no problem. Is it a "grinding" sound or a loud "clicking" sound? I don't know if they would make a "grinding" sound if the rockers were out of adjustment. Well first off i would make sure they were not to tight. Back each one off just a little if your not sure. Then with a 5/8 ratchet/socket ready and a rag, start the truck and begin from the front and work your way back and do one side at a time. Leave the other valve cover on while you do the other side. Now loosen the adjustment nut until you hear a loud "clicking" sound from the one your working on. You will be able to tell a change in sound. Then slowly tighten the nut until the clicking stops. Again you will be able to tell the differance in sound. The when it stops clicking, tighten the adjustment nut 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn. Do this SLOWLY. Then do this 15 more times and your done. Becareful of the hot oil. This is for hydaulic lifters only. Solid lifters are different. With soild lifters, you have to adjust them with the motor off. Just turn the motor over until the cam is on its base circle for the rocker that you want to adjust. Then just slide the feeler gauge in between the valve tip and the rocker arm and tighten or loosen the nut until the feeler gauge fits "snug" between the stem and rocker arm. Thats all there is to it. I hope you get it worked out.

10-17-2002, 09:57 PM	#6
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	Truck Hippy has you covered on the running adjustment. To add a little, if you cut a "window" in the top of an old set of covers, you can make that running adjustment with no oil mess. they are also cool conversation pcs to have hanging on the wall.......you wouldnt beleive how many guys have asked "what the hell can you use them for"! good luck.....crazy longhorn

10-17-2002, 10:07 PM	#8
crazy longhorn Fabricate till you "puke" Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ill Posts: 9,402	I used a die grinder to cut the holes, but you could drill 4 holes for corners & cut with snips. all you need is enough to expose the nuts, & as long as you are @ idle, the oil stays in the eng.

10-17-2002, 10:12 PM	#9
Truck Hippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Hickory, NC. Posts: 776	Yea, those valve covers with the top cut out are a very good idea.

10-17-2002, 10:18 PM	#11
Truck Hippy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Hickory, NC. Posts: 776	Hey. I forgot to add that if any of the adjustment nuts are kinda easy to turn, you may want to replace them. They are self-locking nuts from the factory and they are that way to hold the correct adjustment. The balancer bolt should make any difference. Good luck!



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