Well this will teach me to leave well enough alone. I started with a car that ticked for a couple minutes upon startup, but otherwise ran beautifully. Took care of the valve tick, and now the car runs like crap. Feels like its missing real bad. Adjusted the valves with the car running, and it seemed like it was running OK. Shut it down, put everything back together, started it back up and now it sounds like I have an exhaust leak on the passenger side, the car is missing, and I have little power. I'm thinking I might have jacked up something on the EGR valve causing the exhaust leak? Maybe I broke the bendy tube? If that was the problem, would that cause bad missing and rough low power running? I really don't want to have to tear this down yet again (I'm in an insane amount of pain from bending over this car for two days now....)

 

If you're lifters are really bad, go to Autozone, and order part number -

CL-MTC-5

Melling cam kit. 214/204 @ .050... computer compatible. New cam + new lifters + check the pushrods (not bent) = problem solved.

 

thats just it-I don't know if they are bad. The car ran great before I started screwing with it. Just ticked for a min or so until the car warmed up and built pressure in the upper end, and I wanted to take care of the problem before the lifters were wiped out....perhaps I collapsed a lifter or two or 12 when I cranked them down too far? But before I go replacing a bunch of parts (especially ones that are going to cost me $100+), I want to make sure that they need replaceing.....

 

My opinion is with Doward, go with rebuilding the top half of the engine well at least the parts he mentioned. Also, out of curiousity, how are the valve springs? I figure, even if one is weak, the hyd-lifter should take care of that little bit of adjustment, but just out curiosity.

Anyway, doing the 'Doward' method should and from thinking about it, make a world of difference in performance. Specially since the cam will be new allowing for the extra lift (from not being worn as the other one could be) and proper timing duration.

-dan