Technical Engine builders: Why is my new 322 breaking rockers?

There's something beautifully simplistic about Tractor motors......I mean Flatheads...

 

Ha ha .... You mean lawn mower?

85hp that runs ... Is still better than 300 that doesn't !

 

Ouch..... Kinda set myself up for that one.

 

I don't know if any body has brought this up but check spring to pushrod clearence also.

 

Make a shim .626 I'd .933 od .164 thick to fill the inner spring pocket. Treat it like a sbc spring from that point on.
Leave the outer alone,the pushrod is real close to the outer spring and it needs all the room it can get.
Spring rate of inner shimmed that amount will be about a 10-15 lbs increase,nothing I bee to concerned with.
You are ending up with quite the spring collection.

 

You're correct, they are close. I wont be messing with the outer spring diameter....

Gary, I think the challenge this would present is finding a relatively short inner spring from what I can see. I have thought about a small shim (.040ish) with the Toyota spring just to bump the rate a little.

 

On any quality sping set ,the inners are wound the opposite direction of the outer springs and they fit tightly into the outers to act as a dampner.
This is to keep destructive harmonics to a minimum.

 

Gary,
Again part of the challenge is dealing with an old motor. If I opened the outer pocket to accept a more available spring, then I could run a matching damper style inner. From everything I have been told the risk of hitting water in these areas of the heads is pretty high, and you have to watch pushrod clearance as mentioned.
From what I have researched there are not "Quality spring sets" for the early nailheads. Egge, Centerville, Schneider are matching up inner and outers. All of these have RH wound the inners and outers. If this Toyota spring works the inner it is LH wound which could be a plus (more so if either spring breaks versus harmonics)

If anybody has opened up these heads for different springs I would love to see some pics and specs on what they used.

 

I like this idea, opens up a ton of possibilities.

 

You might try one of those valve spring testers that fit on the rocker. turn the valve to max lift and check spring pressure.

 

Nice. Adjustable push rods have allowed you to cheat.

 

I have tomorrow off and hope to get it back together, broke in, so I can make it to the messaround Sunday.

Springs came in. The Toyota is on the left, then stock Buick, sealed power, and Falcon.

They are really close to Buick spec.


Here's the part number if it helps anyone else. Made in USA


Here's the new inner outer on the left, Buick center, falcon far right.


Also new Melling lifters. Multi lingual package had me concerned but they are made in USA.


Hopefully good news to report late tomorrow.

 

Good luck!

 

Fingers crossed and the Best of Luck!

 

One more guy wishing you luck on this, you deserve it!

 

Damned glad ya' found "Made in USA" Toyota springs. I mean thank gawd' !!

 

Here's hoping, good luck.
Al.

 

"It does not matter if the cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice." Deng Xiaoping

 

Now why is it that parts for American cars are made off shore and parts for a Japanese brand car is made in the USA? Does this seem absolutely ridiculous to you too?

 

Was that "Made in China"? ha

 

Yes, it was. famous quote from a famous man...

 

Long day, about 12 hours, dad came up to help too. It was good to have another set of eyes. A guy from the machine shop swing by as well.

I made a check spring and wanted to check at least an exhaust valve through the drive train. Advertised is .480, and I got an actual of .450. Which is good.
The guides appeared really close to the retainers, no signs of hitting though. When we pulled each set of springs we measured guide height, and put a lock in the valve and measured from the bottom of the lock to the top of the guide. There's more clearance that first thought.

Got the new lifters in, reset the pushrods to .044 preload.

Got the motor reassembled, it's ready to fire first thing in the am.

 

Weather still Look'in bad for Sunday Minneapolis Messaround.

 

Hope to see the car tomorrow / weather makes me nervous too. I'm willing to get wet, if that's what it takes.......

My house garage (in Eagan) is open if anybody from the south needs help with anything.

 

Quietly Waiting for good news..........

 

Went through the lifter break in this am. Took a little more time to get oil into everything, which had us concerned for a few minutes on start up.

Its difficult to describe how much better, and how quiet this engine runs now. I think the original spring combo, not only was binding, but the pressures were too high as well. It's really "happy" now.

Oh what a feeling it is to drive a Toyota........errrrrr.....Hot Rod!

 

THATS what I'm talking about!! HURRAY!!!

And this shit isn't rocket science, just basic common sense and checking EVERYTHING with CARE when you put it together.

 

Glad to hear it's back on the road. Looking forward to seeing it in person.

 

This is good news indeed! Now you can enjoy the Mighty little Nailhead.
Keep us posted on how it performs.
Congrats!

 

I'm going to head up a little early, get there early and watch the weather on my phone. I may have to pick up a small tarp for the roof if it rains too bad.