Grumbles

I recently top swapped my 305. I put an L98 cam and 416 heads on, as well as proform roller tip rockers (1 of which gave up the ghost. A factory stamped rocker is holding it's spot till i find a replacement.) I am using an Edelbrock 1406 carb, everything appears to be sound, and I have checked (albeit not thoroughly) for excessive rocker arm play.

The motor is however making a metallic clicking noise that SEEMS to be coming from the passenger side cylinder bank. It increases with RPM, though it does not seem to get louder or more alarming.

Vacuum shows steady, though I have not checked that cylinder's compression, 4 of it's siblings seem to be between 130-150 which doesn't seem too shabby for a motor with 180k on it.

Any and all suggestions as to what may be causing this are absolutely welcome! Thanks in advance,

J.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

416's use non-self-aligning rockers, which I would assume is what your Proform's are. Your '92 rockers are self-aligning, meaning using them (or one) on 416 heads will overconstrain (bind) the push rod/rocker/valve stem. Not a good situation.

If your Proform's are self-aligning, that's probably why one already failed.

Grumbles

okay so, what is the diff between self-aligning and not, and what do you suggest i do to resolve this?

EDIT: Do you think this is why I'm making a ticking noise? You don't suppose my valves are making contact do you?

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

Self-aligning rockers align themselves on the top of the valve stem, using either nubs or some kind of plate-like device on each side so that the rocker end doesn't stray from the top of the valve.

I doubt your valves are making contact.

Grumbles

Okay, so, while awaiting your response I did a little research myself.

The ProForms I have are not self-aligning. My assumption is the guys who put my car back together did such a poor job lashing the valves that when I goosed the car the rocker missed the stem entirely and broke on contact. It then proceeded to mash itself to smithereens on the part of the stem it managed to make contact with. Fortunately the stems are made of some pretty stern stuff and show no damage whatsoever.

I ordered a factory non-aligning rocker from autozone for the whopping price of 1.68 and will be installing and THOROUGHLY checking my lash on tuesday. While doing this I'll be inspecting the springs to make sure there's not a busted inner spring making my ticking noise. If this all goes accordingly, and I'm absolutely certain it's lashed right, and it STILL ticks, I'm just gonna run the damn thing till it explodes or the tick goes away. I've already dumped too much cash into a tired old 305.

Time to put away for the 350 swap, and then the T5 when the 350 blows mine up lol.