I just spun a rod bearing on my newly built 406 and there were fine shavings in the oil and in the block. I am taking the block back to the machine shop to have it cleaned but how do I clean the roller lifters and the rockers? There are oil holes that I need to flush out somehow.

 

i'd be more worried about why the bearing spun on a new engine right now, they usually don't spin just because of some bad luck. as for cleaning the remaining parts try compressed air and solvent. if any part is questionable trash it and buy another, better safe than sorry

 

Well, the machine shop is checking the other rods for size. The one that spun is getting resized. All the parts were brand new. I have talked to two different machine shops that have had bad expierience with the brand of crankshaft that I used. Both said the same thing without me mentioning the other shop. Both said that the rod journals could have been egg shaped so that when I checked clearance it would be within spec. If I were to spin the engine over some it would have a different reading. I just used a plastigage. I have never heard of this before but I kind of believe them since both said the same thing. I won't tell the name of the crankshaft because this may or may not be the reason for the spun bearing.

 

ok i'll say it, scat, at least if i were betting that's what i'd say. lot of people use plasti gage because they don't have or can't afford the right tools for engine assembly, but i'd never trust it for anythnig other than a general idea of the clearance

 

You might want to try ultrasonic cleaning.

I gotta agree with the Plastigage thing. About all it's good for is making sure you have the right bearings once you already know the crank journal diameters by some actual measurement method. it's nowhere near accurate enough to QC a crank grind with. Buy a good micrometer or caliper, it will pay for itself many times over; would have already paid for itself in fact, if you had checked the crank properly and found this out before you had the failure.

 

I didn't want to say but you are correct. Have you heard of this before also?

 

hmm... if i were to do the rockers (roller rockers im assuming) id very carefully take each one apart one at a time clean them, and reassemble...

some you cant even take apart though..... and dont lose any needle bearings...



if you think they're that bad, i would just buy new ones......... and i would just get new lifters...

 

I cleaned my roller lifters for use with my hot cam. I took each one apart and got them vat cleaned at the machine shop. It took me FOREVER to put them back together, but I found alot of old oil-crust so it was worth it.

 

All these parts are new and only have 150 miles on them so I'd really hate to take them apart. I am thinking of just using a parts washer and then using compressed air to blow them out.

 

the roller lifters I'd take apart. there is a clip on the top take that out and the whole thing comes apart. as far as your rocker, assuming they are full roller designs I'd clean them good with some solvent. the clearances ar so tight in there chunks probably didn't get in. either way its not a very critcal part. clean it good and be satisfied. what ever you miss the oil filter will pick up.

You also want to remove your cam bearing, they are fully grooved on a SBC and it makes for a great hide out if your a metal chunk. not to mention your oil pump, which you should throw out.

the guys at your machine shop have probably dealt with cleaning these smalll parts ad should be more then happy to help ya!