65 273 Valve Adjusters Coming Loose

[PocketAces]

The lifters on my 1965 273 rely on a friction fit for the valve lash adjuster. Some of them are loose and I can turn them with my fingers and very little effort. The result is that it won't maintain correct valve lash. Is this a common problem on these engines?

1. Can I add lock nuts to the adjusting screws? If so, do I need new screws as well?
2. Could I put lock tite or something else on the threads?
3. What about doing something to alter the threads on the lifter or the screw to create some friction?

If you have a solution, please also share whether you've actually tried it successfully?

 

[swinger340]

The lifters on my 1965 273 rely on a friction fit for the valve lash adjuster. Some of them are loose and I can turn them with my fingers and very little effort. The result is that it won't maintain correct valve lash. Is this a common problem on these engines?

1. Can I add lock nuts to the adjusting screws? If so, do I need new screws as well?
2. Could I put lock tite or something else on the threads?
3. What about doing something to alter the threads on the lifter or the screw to create some friction?

If you have a solution, please also share whether you've actually tried it successfully?

I have some 273 rockers on a 340 and they kept backing off. Replaced the the adjusters w new allen head adjusters w/ jam nut. I didnt dare to take the chance of ruining the rockers by altering the threads. Bought them from summit racing.

 

[PocketAces]

I have some 273 rockers on a 340 and they kept backing off. Replaced the the adjusters w new allen head adjusters w/ jam nut. I didnt dare to take the chance of ruining the rockers by altering the threads. Bought them from summit racing.

Do they sell just the adjuster screw and jam nut for use with my existing lifters? I'm not having any luck with Google.

 

[swinger340]

Do they sell just the adjuster screw and jam nut for use with my existing lifters? I'm not having any luck with Google.

Yes. The replacements are a little longer because of needing the lock nut on top. They work great on stock 273 rockers w/ solid or hydrolic lifters. Have the same ball end to use the stock cup pushrods if you please.
I got them right from summit but im having a hard time finding them now. Once i find them ill forward the part # or description to you. They must still sell them. I bought mine 1.5 yrs ago.

 

[moper]

If you cang et thte thread size you can probably get them from a variety of sources if Summit doesn't have them.

 

[PocketAces]

Yes. The replacements are a little longer because of needing the lock nut on top. They work great on stock 273 rockers w/ solid or hydrolic lifters. Have the same ball end to use the stock cup pushrods if you please.
I got them right from summit but im having a hard time finding them now. Once i find them ill forward the part # or description to you. They must still sell them. I bought mine 1.5 yrs ago.

Looks like this is what I want.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRN-99802-16/

But 3/8-24 seems big to me. I think I will pulll off the valve cover and make sure.

 

[swinger340]

Looks like this is what I want.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRN-99802-16/

But 3/8-24 seems big to me. I think I will pulll off the valve cover and make sure.

Those look like the ones, but 3/8-24 does sound big. I have a set out of the car i can check w a tap or thread chaser. Will let you know tomorrow.

 

[PocketAces]

Those look like the ones, but 3/8-24 does sound big. I have a set out of the car i can check w a tap or thread chaser. Will let you know tomorrow.

3/8-24 is indeed correct. I will order these. Thanks for the tip.

 

[swinger340]

Sorry Im late, but 3/8-24 seemed to thread into the rocker just fine.

 

[PocketAces]

I installed the new adjusters, buttoned it up, started the engine and heard a terrible noise. Turns out the the adjusters are just long enough to hit the inside of the valve cover. It's just the adjusters on the center 4 rockers and they're hitting the tin inside the valve cover that keeps oil from splashing out the breather.

Need to think about what to do. Fresh valve cover gaskets might be enough. Or I could bend or dimple that tin, or even drill some holes in it.

 

[swinger340]

I installed the new adjusters, buttoned it up, started the engine and heard a terrible noise. Turns out the the adjusters are just long enough to hit the inside of the valve cover. It's just the adjusters on the center 4 rockers and they're hitting the tin inside the valve cover that keeps oil from splashing out the breather.

Need to think about what to do. Fresh valve cover gaskets might be enough. Or I could bend or dimple that tin, or even drill some holes in it.

I had that happen as well. When you pull your covers off you will see where adjusters were hitting. I chose to drill 3/8 doles in my baffle where they were hitting. Now adjusters just go up into the baffle slightly. Now nice and quiet and still looks stock.

 

[PocketAces]

I had that happen as well. When you pull your covers off you will see where adjusters were hitting. I chose to drill 3/8 holes in my baffle where they were hitting. Now adjusters just go up into the baffle slightly. Now nice and quiet and still looks stock.

I put a 67 valve cover on the drivers side and it didn't hit. The baffle is shaped different in that one. That's temporary until I find a 65 valve cover to replace.

On the passenger side, I had to drill the holes in the baffle out to 1/2" before they finally stopped hitting. Seems like shorter push rods might have been another way to fix the problem. Too bad these screws are so darn long.

I have one other problem. One of my rockers has experienced some trauma. It looks like the adjuster screw backed out and the push rod came up into the bottom of the rocker and made a mess. To fix it, somebody, used a chisel on the top of the rocker to get the threads to hold. Not pretty.

If anyone has just one spare rocker, they'd be willing to part with, I'd appreciate it.