1982 Bronco XLT

[ArdWrknTrk]

Unless it's just a mangled pushrod.  🤞

Are there less than 1,000 miles on that cam, or just on the plugs?
What have you been using for oil, and how long did you use a break-in oil with high ZDDP?

Sounds like you'll be tearing it down to change lifters and cam.
Consider it an autopsy and take notice of everything as you remove it.

Now I'm really surprised that it would be revving so high, if seven cylinders were constantly pumping against #5 with a closed exhaust valve.

[Weberman]

Took the pushrod and rocker off the one next to it and switched it just to see but still the same result. It barely pushes down on the spring while the other ones get pushed much farther. I have no idea how many miles this motor has on it, I bought it with the cam installed. That being said, I've been using diesel oil as I've heard its the best off the shelf for flat tappets.

Is it worth to tear down for lifters and cam? I figured it would be a full on rebuild since that metal had to go somewhere. I figured the bearings are already on there way even if I flushed and did many quick oil changes.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Any metal should end up in the oil filter.

I would want to do a leakdown, but if the rings and valves are tight (something under 15-20%) there's a good bit of life left in it.
Besides a cam and lifter kit is a LOT less than an engine and it can be done in the truck.

If the cam journals are worn too bad then maybe you have to dig deeper but I wouldn't write the engine off just because of a bad lobe

[Weberman]

Idk, but maybe its the luck I've had with this journey/engine but hopes aren't too high haha. I'll try to find a leak down tester and see what it is.

[Gary Lewis]

Harbor Freight sells a decent leak-down tester.

[Weberman]

Still need to do a leak down and see. But a 351w roller swap has been tempting me if I'm going to be honest. Just easier to get the power/torque out of a 351, that stroke helps a lot.

Is there anyway to tell what splines a 9inch is? I was thinking about swapping chunks out but didn't want to tear each axle apart and have them be different splines, plus just swapping the rear sounds easier than taking the axles and chunk out.

[Weberman]

Didn't want to post anything til it was on and fully done. But finally got a good call back on a bumper that could be shipped. It looked great too, I'll clean it up even more when it's bolted down more. Currently just have 2 bolts on one side and 1 on the other til I get some new bolts for it.

[grumpin]

Looks good!

[Gary Lewis]

That's one of the fancy bumpers.  Love it!  

[Weberman]

Yeah, thats part of the reason why I think it was so hard to get one. Needing the Bronco specific brackets since mine were some thrown together ones that the previous owner made and wanting that bumper. A tailgate to look better and redo the window motor so that will be good and I think it'll be good to rock for awhile besides the engine.

[Weberman]

What all parts in the tailgate should be replaced? I didn't know what all was needed or not. I saw a kit on JBG and a lot of people said all of it isn't needed but didn't know if they meant just for motor replacements and needed it for rusted out tailgates or what. I'm going to replace the motor because I've been on the motor wires and nothing has happened.

[Weberman]

Well I ended up doing what I wanted from the beginning, a 351W. Took it a step farther and got a 351 roller block. Sure the other owner may have not broke the lifters in right, but I'm not gonna have one wipe out again. Took it a step further with the build and got these.




The engine came in today too but is at my buddy's shop where it got shipped. Hope to order more parts in the next week, get it built and put in.

[Gary Lewis]

That’ll be a big change from a 302.

I think you are going to love it.

[Gsmblue]

Nice! More info, pics and video please!!

[Weberman]

I hope so. A few simulators put it 360hp/410 ft lbs, both at a low RPM. A similar build to what I'm doing but 302 did 315/345 at the rear wheels.

[Weberman]

I'm going on vacation next week so it'll be a few weekends sadly before I get anything really going. I'm going to try to get everything off/loose before I head out next Friday.

What I'm doing/specs are:
Weiand Stealth Dual Plane

AFR Enforcer heads - It's a new line they came out with and they're cast instead of being CNC so it's cheaper than their others but everything that comes with them they also put in their top line.

COMP XE266 Cam - I played around for hours on COMPs cam selector, playing around with different grinds, different lines, different heads - stock E7s, AFR Enforcers, AFR 185s. I highlighted the best in each category I had: HP, Torque, lowest RPMs, Average HP/FT-LBS. It won in at least 1 category with the different head selection, but with the Enforcers it won every category but HP, and the winner beat it by 5hp.

Ford Performance Roller Lifters
COMP Double Roller Timing Chain
COMP Full Roller Rockers

Stock Bottom End - I'll be doing leak down to make sure but with how many miles it has on the engine, I'm just going to leave it. With the factory ratio and these new heads with a smaller chamber should be around 9.3 compression.

[Gary Lewis]

I was loving the build until I got to the compression ratio.  I think you are giving away a lot of power by staying with 9.3:1.  That's because aluminum heads cool the mix so well you can run almost a full point more of compression with the same fuel.

So with those heads I'd want ~10.0:1 or maybe a bit more.  It'll give you effectively 9+:1, but the setup you spec'd is going to be more like 8.3:1  IOW, stock.

[Weberman]

I didn't realize you'd effectively lose some, I always knew you could run a bit more and have the same gas but didn't know it would lessen what you have.

I've also been thinking about doing pistons to get an increase in general. I know it helps a bunch. Might sit down and see what a kit might cost.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with Gary here.
You're not losing power with aluminum heads, but you are leaving something on the table because their better heat dissipation will allow the engine to tolerate more compression before it starts knocking.  (with optimal advance and whatever coolant temp)

Maybe I completely misunderstand , but I do not think that an aluminum head is going to inhibit how much volume is created from a fixed volume of charge.
Though with better ports and valves you'll get better filling regardless the material the heads are made of.
It is that pressure pushing down the piston that makes power.

[Gary Lewis]

Well, what I said was poorly worded. What Jim said is well worded.

You won’t be losing compression. You will be leaving power “on the table” as it were.