Lifter questions on 68 307

[aggiegrad]

Got tired of the blue smoke on startup of my 68 daily driver. Replaced the o-ring and umbrella valve stem seals but ran across an issue when I went to tighten the rockers up. I am new to this so I looked at the methods to adjust 1/2 turn past zero lash for Hydraulic lifters. However, only one of my lifters has any give indicating it is hydraulic. Cylinder 1 exhaust allows you to push it in 1/4 in after zero and I set it as indicated (1/2 turn past 0) and everything seemed fine. Every other pushrod felt solid and if I tried to adjust 1/2 turn it would open the valve.

I am wondering if there is any logical reason for this. I assume the PO did not install 15 mechanical lifters. Also, it does not make sense for all to go bad.

The truck is the original 307 and has been running fine. We drive it regularly the past 2 yeats and daily for the past 5 months.

I am worried to crank it back up but I dont want to remove the intake either if there is nothing to worry about.

thanks for any help.

[geezer#99]

Back all the rockers off all the way and start over.
But this time wiggle the rocker/pushrod to take all the slack out. Don’t use the twist the pushrod method.
Once you’ve done all of them then adjust them all 1/4 turn. Start it up and idle it. If it all sounds good, shut it down and give it another 1/4 turn.

[aggiegrad]

I am not sure that will help. I did not use the twist method. I was looking for slack between the rocker and pushrod by lifting the pushrod. I even tested the lifter with the rocker off. The push rod can not push in the lifter at all. Is it possible for them to come back up after cranking?

When I tried a 1/4 turn on the valve after 0 and it began opening the valve.

Because 1 of them acted correct, I could tell the difference.

[geezer#99]

That ‘one’ is not correct.
It’s collapsing.
Have you tried running it at zero lash?

[maverickmk]

They are "hydraulic" lifters. They fill with oil pumped through the engine when it's running. Setting valve lash while it's not running will collapse the lifter because it forces the oil out of the lifter. Like geezer said, start over using his method.

[aggiegrad]

Thanks guys. I will try that today. I just always fear I am going to do more harm than good. I have a tendency to learn the hard way.

[geezer#99]

Are you setting them like in this link?

https://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/...raulic_lifters

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by maverickmk

They are "hydraulic" lifters. They fill with oil pumped through the engine when it's running. Setting valve lash while it's not running will collapse the lifter because it forces the oil out of the lifter. Like geezer said, start over using his method.

X2 The engine may run rough after starting because of the lifters being filled with oil. One way to combat this, is to adjust them as mentioned above, and wait a day or two to let the lifters bleed off to where they are adjusted...

[aggiegrad]

Just a followup. I did as everyone said and although they were much tighter than before (more threads showing), everything worked as it should. They must have been too loose before. So thanks everyone for reassuring my fears.

Also no blue smoke is promising. Now my oil mileage should go up

[aggiegrad]

Just a followup. I did as everyone said and although they were much tighter than before (more threads showing), everything worked as it should. They must have been too loose before. So thanks everyone for reassuring my fears.

Also no blue smoke is promising. Now my oil mileage should go up