[cozz1287]

Last winter I had a shop port out the valves, add a Lunati cam and a Holly carburetor to increase my hp from 350 to 400. When I got the car back in the spring it made a knocking noise so the mechanic did some adjustments and added engine locks. I had the car for about a week when it made noises again and I took it back to have adjustments made.
After a month the car engine made really bad clicking noises and I took it back to the shop. They told me the lifters were bad and replaced the cam which they installed in the winter. I had the car for a few weeks and then it started making engine popping noises so I took it back to the shop.
They tell me there is one bad lifter but they cannot figure out what is wrong with the car.

Does anyone have any ideas as this is starting to add up to a lot of money. I would almost have been better to buy a crate engine at this point. Each time I take it in the shop charges me more money. Has anyone had this problem with a 396 engine before?

Steve

 

[kettbo]

Sounds like you have little to no experience with this stuff. You should cut your losses, get a real expert to work on your car. If the shop charges you each time to repair their problems, they are essentially ripping you off. It appears that they do not know WTF they are doing.

Engine locks? Are you talking about poly locks for the rocker studs?
What cam grind exactly, lifters, and springs?
Be honest here....what is your experience level with old cars? Suggestions and answers to your questions need to be tailored to your skill set.
Some of the more aggressive hyd cams are noisey.
'popping noise' could be a clue the cam is going flat.....or a bad carb adjustment, or a bad tune.

Need more info about the parts on the car, your initial tune, etc, etc.

 

[Mike]

And/or the shop your dealing with has little/no idea that a zinc additive is necessary and lack of is wiping the cam lobes.
Are they showing you the removed parts?
As George said ,get a new shop.

 

[cozz1287]

George:

I actually posted this for my husband so I may not have explained everything the way he would. They put in rocker arms after the first engine noise when it was rattling. I'm trying to get some answers to this problem because it's been going on all year and they keep blaming the cam and now want to blame the guy who did the valve job. Everyting I've read on the internet tells me it's the mechanic not the parts. My husband has tried to get them to fix it but the cars been in the shop more then at home. It's been in there 3 weeks again this time and they took the engine apart last week. When he went there they told him they don't know what's causing it yet. How much time does a qualified shop take to fix this kind of problem and why is this the second cam with bad lifters? They are a high performance speed shop that "specialize" in this type of work and keep telling my husband they're working on it. If they don't fix it in another two weeks should I have the car towed somewhere else? I don't want to risk the engine having more problems by running it. Thanks for your help Mary

 

[charbilly2001]

Yup. I'd be inclined to go get the car even if the engine is in a basket. Sounds like the "Specialized" engine shop isn't "Specialized" in your particular car. They've evidently made a mistake and are trying to bamboozle you and your hubby to to prevent themselves from being stuck with the repair bill.


I don't know how much money you have sunk into this wreck of a project but once you get your car back you might think about seeing a lawyer.

 

[kettbo]

Mary,

Without hearing the noises and seeing the parts....long distance post mortems are hard to solve.

See Scott's postings on Engine Oils, top of the Engine Area. Probably some of this lack of Zn and P in the oils. Probably some other issues.

You are great for posting the problems looking for answers!!!!! Off to work now, will check in later this evening. Maybe a local TC guy will see this and assist.....

 

[SWHEATON]

All of the above plus just to be safe do you happen to know casting id of block in car?

I just went thru a deal when someone had a 69 camaro with supposed right motor that turned out to be a 65 396 which was the issue with wiping out pult cams in a row.

65-66 only bbc need a grove rear cam bearing and cam journal to get proper amount of oil to top end so ck=hk that out too.

And you cant go by pad on pass front of motor as there are many restamps out there these days,you have to chk block casting id on back driver sode of block at block to trans flange ointerface.

Can use a flashlight and small telescoping mechanics mirror to do that.

But more then likely its just as already stated where it's people not knowing how to properly deal with flat tappet cam installs esp with regaurd to using proper assembly lube & oils with proper zddp lvls for breakin and post breakin too that caused the mult cam failures.

Scott

 

[ranvette]

Just what i was thinking Swheaton! (65-66 only bbc need a grove rear cam bearing) I have seen a few over the Years install cams with no Grooves in these blocks.Omg it went on for a while $$$$$$ before they figured it out ! My advice is if you have been spending money time after time for the same problem.And this shop installed the cam and lifters take legal action against them.I have been doing this sort of stuff for over 30 years and its clear the shop is over there head on this one.It will also be easy for you to get a judgement
in your favor in court.