My engine is hurt...dangnabit

[**grumpy**]

My 60 has a 70's era 250 I6 and it never has run right since I bought it. I figured it was bad gas, because the gas was horrible.

But after tank removed, cleaned, lines filters etc, rebuilt carb, new cap,rotor, 3 sets of plugs, wires etc. No real change.

2 older guys I know played with carb, timing, changing plug gaps etc, and decided sounded like burnt exhaust valve, or head gasket between cylinders.

So I was gonna pull head, then a buddy says I better do compression test first.

160-170 on all cylinders but 6. It had 35. So I shot some oil into the cylinder and it jumped to 135. Then back to 35......

So No.6 is hurt. Likely a piston or ring I guess.

So out comes the 250..............

[jchav62]

That sucks!

I'm sure you'll have it back together in no time...

[Corts60]

Well, at least you got one camping trip out of it! Good luck with the build.

Are you putting this engine back in or do you have other plans?

[rendus]

Originally Posted by **grumpy**

So I was gonna pull head, then a buddy says I better do compression test first.

160-170 on all cylinders but 6. It had 35. So I shot some oil into the cylinder and it jumped to 135. Then back to 35......

So No.6 is hurt. Likely a piston or ring I guess.

So out comes the 250..............

Don't feel bad. My new 66 was running a little rough so I compression tested it. Bad piston or ring in #2 and a burnt valve in #6. That'll be a winter project.

[rickf]

I'm somewhat afraid to post this, to mark myself as one lazy SOB.

My 230L6 burned a valve in #1. I got it fixed, but the cyl went to basically 0 compression in about a year. (And that shop had since gone out of business.)

I drove it nearly a decade on the remaining 5 cyls.

A rather rough idle, kind of shaky off the line, smoothed out reasonably at speed, and got me to the races and back once a month for years on end.

I loved that 6. The various Hondas and Volvos in the family, every one of them crapped out dead a time or two. But that 230L6, it ran worse and worse, but it always ran.

[Tx Firefighter]

Grumpy, if you local Craigslist is like mine, you can find early inline engines all day long for 150 dollars or so. Lots of folks get the V8 fever and just want them out of the way.

[slepysal]

keep us posted i agree with Hoser that sucks

[**grumpy**]

It does suck......
I may just drive it til it blows up..haha

I can rev the snot out of it and it takes it, so who knows.

I have a line on a free 72 250. And I found a 64 283 for 100 bucks that is supposed to be a runner.

Need to decide and get it done before 3rd week of June. Big weekend show here local in NE Ohio, so I need it done by then.

Stay tuned...

[**grumpy**]

Well, dont any of you ever come to me for diagnostic help. I'm a complete and utter dumbazz.

After 2 weeks of screwing with my truck, compression tests etc. I did what I should have done the first day.
Removed the valvecover..........

I was 100% sure it wasnt this, but....You know what they say about when you Assume...

Yep, the rocker came off the pushrod on the exhaust side of No.6









I feel dumb as a box of rocks.

Put it back on, guess-t-mate adjustment, and it runs smooth as can be.

Im a dick

[Captainfab]

That's good it was something simple. I think we're all guilty of overlooking the simple and easy things because it's just gotta be something major.

Did you check to make sure the pushrod isn't bent and that the rocker stud isn't scored from the rocker? You might look at the tip of the valve and the rocker arm as well. I had a similar problem once that kept reoccurring due to worn/damaged parts.

[skullboydeath]

I feel your pain when i rebulit my 250 it took my like a month to get running. I checked everything like 20 times. Finly got a fresh pair of eyes to look at it and a couple of the valves was adjusted wrong.

[Chevy Fleetside]

I put a rebuilt 350 in my truck once and on the way to Tahoe the Exaust stud broke. I thought the engine let loose because it was popping back through the carb. That exaust has to go somewhere I guess. I was with a truck club and they knew someone in the area that could fix it. I was back on the road in about 3 hours. Good thing it was one of the front cyl. I was in Sacramento which is about 90 miles from home.

[jchav62]

Don't be so hard on yourself...That's some good news! Like captain says, check them pushrods... something caused it to come out...

[Eagletucky]

Hell, thats awesome!!!!!!

[MacAttack]

Originally Posted by **grumpy**

Yep, the rocker came off the pushrod on the exhaust side of No.6

Been there - done that - but on a different issue with my old six.

Overtightened v-belt and cracked the water pump pulley just enough to make me think the entire valve train had eaten itself. Got ready to pull the head and had a "Homer Moment" when the pieces fell on the floor when I removed the fan.



Mac.