T/A Challenger Valve Train issue

Posted By: ef8Cuda340

T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 10/30/10 06:41 PM

I removed the valve covers off my T/A for a visual inspection after hearing unusual clacking noise and a slight screeching noice when I would shut it down.

Turns out the offset rockers are rubbing against some of the concave washers (rubs at the small tab that sticks out of the washer) that are used to hold down the rocker shafts. Not all are rubbing but the small ones are (see pic).

They were unusually hot to the touch, and I suspect low oil pressure that I have been trying to trouble shoot has been a part of it; however, even as it sits cold, they are rubbing.

Any thoughts? Do I have the wrong washers? The rockers are offet and correct for T/A heads as far as I know.

thanks in advance.

Attached picture 6275943-TAValveTrainissue.jpg

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 10/30/10 06:53 PM

Quote:

Any thoughts? Do I have the wrong washers?

No you're fine there. Fix the psi prob & you're good. More details w the low psi?

Posted By: ef8Cuda340

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 10/30/10 07:06 PM

I suspect the machine shop left out the block off plug inside the block by the cap/oil pump.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 10/30/10 07:20 PM

If they left out the plug that makes oil make a 90 deg turn into the horizontle passage out to the filter and it instead just goes straight up the vertical passage to the main gallery it will still have pressure and actually a bit more since there's no restriction from the filtering material. If they left out the NPT plug that caps the rear of the dr side main gallery horizontle passage you can take out your dist (1st turn the eng slightly by hand to line up the nearest reluctor blade to the magnet to make it easy to get the initial close when restarting/retiming) then w an inspection mirror/penlight see if you can see behind the gallery inside there & see if the plug is missing. EDIT w more thought I would get that cyl on TDC compression & see if there's at least some side to side clearance on that pair of rockers plus pull the bolt and inspect the offending side edge of the holddown as it is a masss produced stamped piece & may have a burr or sharp edge. there are thin round shims (not the ones that go on the saddles to raise the shaft) that slip on the shaft to space the rockers side to side for perfect alignment & one may be called for here to reduce the friction but that'll be dealt w/checked after the psi is restored

Posted By: ef8Cuda340

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 10/30/10 09:21 PM

both suggestions are great; I will look into it.
thanks!

Posted By: Sixpak

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 10/31/10 04:37 PM

Got oil to the rockers? Got the shafts installed correctly with the ground notches in the shafts correctly oriented?

Posted By: ef8Cuda340

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 11/02/10 05:42 AM

very little oil that I can see collecting at the springs; notches are oriented correctly.

Posted By: 70AARcuda

Re: T/A Challenger Valve Train issue - 11/02/10 05:54 AM

take the sparks plugs out...remove valve covers off...spin engine...see if oil is coming out..

or removed rocker shafts...and watch for oil squirting out of shaft mount....

TA shafts from the factory are groved...

the notches on the end of the shaft should point down and towards your left as you look at them...

driver side...down and towards front of car..
passenger side ...down and towards firewall

other thing that is possible is that a cam bearing has spun or is not correctly installed as the oil to the heads are fed from cam bearings 2 and 4.