Hercules

[05snopro440]

No, they are the Comp springs that came with the cam, I'll remove the inner dampers for the next attempt - a real PITA but if it works out, it'll be worth it.

They mention it twice in this bulletin: https://www.compcams.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/CompCams/FlatTappetCamTechBulletin.pdf

 

[bob w]

zz, Oregon Cams in Washington state. Just a little south of you. They are very busy because of aftermarket shortages caused by Covid and because of aftermarket cam/lifter failures.

Also I've seen oil starvation failures of two almost new engines. The oil pick up screens were plugged. Looked like too much additive/break in moly. Both engines sat for several months after break in Appeared some additive fell out of suspension, laid in the bottom of the pan. When the engines were started the material was drawn into the oil pump pick up and plugged the screen.

I no longer use radical flat tappet cams and stiff springs in street driven engines.

 

[05snopro440]

zz, Oregon Cams in Washington state. Just a little south of you. They are very busy because of aftermarket shortages caused by Covid and because of aftermarket cam/lifter failures.

Also I've seen oil starvation failures of two almost new engines. The oil pick up screens were plugged. Looked like too much additive/break in moly. Both engines sat for several months after break in Appeared some additive fell out of suspension, laid in the bottom of the pan. When the engines were started the material was drawn into the oil pump pick up and plugged the screen.

I no longer use radical flat tappet cams and stiff springs in street driven engines.

Just found their site, they specifically mention performance parts for 390/428 engines. https://www.oregoncamshaft.com/428-FE.html

 

[zzrodder]

They mention it twice in this bulletin: https://www.compcams.com/pub/media/wysiwyg/CompCams/FlatTappetCamTechBulletin.pdf

Yep, I may even put in the stock springs which are likely lighter still..

zz, Oregon Cams in Washington state. Just a little south of you. They are very busy because of aftermarket shortages caused by Covid and because of aftermarket cam/lifter failures.

Thanks Bob

Also I've seen oil starvation failures of two almost new engines. The oil pick up screens were plugged. Looked like too much additive/break in moly. Both engines sat for several months after break in Appeared some additive fell out of suspension, laid in the bottom of the pan. When the engines were started the material was drawn into the oil pump pick up and plugged the screen.

I no longer use radical flat tappet cams and stiff springs in street driven engines.

I guess I'm a sucker for punishment...
After this experience, I'm going to use a roller cam in the 496 BBC for the Packard Gasser, need to flog off the flat tappet Big Mutha Thumper cam I already bought for it...

Just found their site, they specifically mention performance parts for 390/428 engines. https://www.oregoncamshaft.com/428-FE.html

Thanks Colin

 

[zzrodder]

Tired of engine woes today, received the Johnny Joints to replace the heim joints on the trailing arms and rear track bar. Lotsa fun creeping around underneath installing them The heims are positive but noisy and harsh. The Johnny Joints are poly bushed, greaseable and rebuildable - pricey but should make for a better ride...

 

[05snopro440]

Interesting. Let us know how they work out.

 

[Old Iron]

They are higher priced than heim joints but noise transfer with heims is terrible on a street driven ride.

 

[smallfoot]

They are higher priced than heim joints but noise transfer with heims is terrible on a street driven ride.

Turn the stereo up, lol!

 

[zzrodder]

Still waiting for engine parts, decided to redo the back wall upholstery, the car scene was cool but hidden behind the seats and color didn't match the rest of the interior. Also redid the carpet to replace the previous which was just thrown in to get rolling, short loop style, hand stitched the edge binding to give it a more uptown look...

 

[bob w]

You're a beast! (That's a compliment)

 

[Old Iron]

Do you ever sleep???????????

 

[zzrodder]

A happy day, got through the break in process on the new flat tappet cam and lifters. 'Cause it's an FE Ford nobody seems to have another Comp Thumper cam in stock, backordered or made to order, I found a Melling cam on fleabay, 506 lift, adv. 315 duration (224 @ 0.50) similar to the Thumper with a little wider lobe separation, used Comp lifters and installed the stock valve springs with the dampers removed. Slathered the cam, lifter faces, rockers, with moly disulfide grease, filled it with Lucas high ZDDP 10-40 oil. Also dropped the pan to get any debris from the failed cam and put in a new Hi volume Melling oil pump. Crossed my fingers and hit the key!
Actually last time the rear main was peeing out oil, I must have botched the install - redid it too, now no more drips....
Has that hot rod burble now...
Just have to pop the covers and rockers off and put the Comp valve springs back in, that will be fun compared to what just went on.

 

[soltz]

Looking GOOD!!!

 

[05snopro440]

Has a nice lump to it. Sounds great!

 

[Old Iron]

I love the sound of it. Melling makes good cams.
I installed a retro fit Melling roller cam with Comp Cam roller lifters for around $700 in a SBC here awhile back after a flat tappet failure.

 

[smallfoot]

Digging that Hercules powder/tool box!

 

[Old Stuff]

That truck just looks "smooth". Nice work ZZ

 

[zzrodder]

An update on the FE engine woes for the Hercules...
Though the cam break in went good, while swapping the stock valve springs back to the Comp Cams springs, while pressurizing #7 cylinder, I could hear a bubbling sound, then the rad cap let loose - praying it was a head gasket, I swapped in a new one - no dice - even with water level below the deck, still leaking - cracked cylinder - the 390 is junk .
Soooo, plan B
Put new rings and bearings in the 360 and put the Melling cam and lifters in it. Delays from parts store, giving me wrong size rings and bearings, frustrating when guys cant read the computer... The 360 actually had only 45000 miles on it, no ring ridge, crank looked good. Kept track of which lifter went to which cam lobe, fired it up and after a drive around the block - tickety tick. 4 lobes toasted on the cam. Should I have done the break in again on the cam?? It looked perfect - could the lifter alignment on the 390 versus 360 block have been off enough to burn it up?? These FE bocks are the same, you can swap cams, cranks, piston between them.
Back apart it comes, put the original 360 cam and lifters back in, drove all over town today, working great, no more smoke and oil pressure is up by 20lbs. An expensive run around for very little gain, I'm now way more familiar with FE engines than I ever wanted to be....
Could have swapped in an SB Chevy for what this cost in time, money and tears.....

 

[bob w]

Lots of dimensional and metallurgical reasons for failures. Not to mention oil chemistry. Hard to sort it all out.

Sorry for your problems.

 

[DozerII]

An update on the FE engine woes for the Hercules...
Though the cam break in went good, while swapping the stock valve springs back to the Comp Cams springs, while pressurizing #7 cylinder, I could hear a bubbling sound, then the rad cap let loose - praying it was a head gasket, I swapped in a new one - no dice - even with water level below the deck, still leaking - cracked cylinder - the 390 is junk .
Soooo, plan B
Put new rings and bearings in the 360 and put the Melling cam and lifters in it. Delays from parts store, giving me wrong size rings and bearings, frustrating when guys cant read the computer... The 360 actually had only 45000 miles on it, no ring ridge, crank looked good. Kept track of which lifter went to which cam lobe, fired it up and after a drive around the block - tickety tick. 4 lobes toasted on the cam. Should I have done the break in again on the cam?? It looked perfect - could the lifter alignment on the 390 versus 360 block have been off enough to burn it up?? These FE bocks are the same, you can swap cams, cranks, piston between them.
Back apart it comes, put the original 360 cam and lifters back in, drove all over town today, working great, no more smoke and oil pressure is up by 20lbs. An expensive run around for very little gain, I'm now way more familiar with FE engines than I ever wanted to be....
Could have swapped in an SB Chevy for what this cost in time, money and tears.....

Holy crap Charlie that is a hell of a run of bad luck, hopefully everything is good from here on.