[doug ford]

Some of you may remember that I've been fighting a rough running condition with my 427 ever since the first day I drove it. I tried everything I could think of, adjusting carbs, timing, checking plugs, wires, cap, changing the original distributor for a pertronix dist, new carbs from pony carbs, probably more things I can't think of right now. It just continually got worse and worse.
I finally gave up trying and took it to a good friend of mine who owns a shop called Legends. He has done a lot of work for me in the past, even on this engine and transmission. He's a little younger than me but he's an old-school engine builder who can crank out some great running powerplants.
Anyhow, as soon as I told him what it was doing he knew exactly what it was. The thing had wiped the cam. Duh. You would've thought I would have checked that. Actually early on I had the valve covers off and all of the valvetrain seemed to be working as it should. Apparently that was in the early stages of the lobes wearing down. By the time he tore it down the first lobe for #1 cylinder was almost rounded off.
Anyway, long story short, I got it back this afternoon and drove the car like I knew it could be driven for the first time. This thing is a BEAST! WOOHOO what a ride!!!!!

 

[Fast68back]

Soooooo Doug, when you gonna post a new video???

 

[doug ford]

Hey I gotta do that!!

 

[JDM4401]

I was going to ask the same question. I enjoyed watching your other video clips.

 

[jfstang]

Ohhh goodie, another vid coming!!!! Can't wait. irate: irate:
And I'm so glad you got the 427 got sorted out. A hot running 427 is a thing to be feared!
Go for it!! :burnout:

 

[doug ford]

It was almost dark tonight when I posted this so it was too late to shoot a video and tomorrow they're calling for rain so I'm not sure how soon I'll be able to shoot one but you can bet I will as soon as I get a chance. There MIGHT be a chance you'll see a little tire smoke!

 

[gotstang]

Glad to hear you got it straightened out doug! At least they caught the cam before it hurt something.

 

[A_65_Myself]

Any guesses as to why this happened?

 

[buckeyedemon]

Any guesses as to why this happened?

same question here. i would be very interested in why it happened so i could be sure it wouldn't happen again.

are you running solids?

 

[doug ford]

Yep, solid lifters. The lifter were the old style hollow shell and one was worn completely through, it had a hole in the end of it! I was lucky.
There are a couple of ideas why it happened. First, this engine sat for many many years after being rebuilt and then having an issue with one of the heads which allowed coolant into the cylinder. I drained all fluids out of it and dried it out as best I could before storing it away with marvel mystery oil in the cylinders but the place I had it stored before building my garage was damp. One theory is flash or surface rust on the cam lobes from storage started the deterioration of the cam and lifters.
The second thought was using oil without zinc. Comp Cams believes this is the reason and I tend to think that's probably it too. They supplied a break-in oil with zinc with the new cam and said I need to use racing oil with zinc along with an extra additive when I change the oil.

 

[mustang656man]

wow, good info! wes

 

[buckeyedemon]

what's your idle speed? i really want to run a big solid roller cam in mine but have had concerns about the wear and tear. i have read numerous times that the key to making a big solid rollers survive on the street is to keep the idle speed up (1200-1500). apparently the solids need the additional oil splashing that occurs with elevated engine RPM's.

that was information that i found concerning solid roller cams. i'm not sure if the same is true for the solid flat tappets.

 

[doug ford]

I don't know if that's true or not either. Right now my idle speed is around 10K I think but it seems a little fast to me, it used to idle lower.
I would check with the cam mfg'r and get thier recommendations.

 

[68RCodeConv]

FWIW I have a solid roller in my 347. Idles at 800 rpm. No wear problems I am aware of.

I have had two motors built in the last 3 years and put rollers in both of them. Did not want to take the chance on wiping a cam.

I assume that the motor was disassembled and cleaned out?

 

[doug ford]

Not completely disassembled but it was cleaned out. I sure hope nothing was left in there. I'll be changing oil again before too long.

 

[buckeyedemon]

Right now my idle speed is around 10K I think but it seems a little fast to me, it used to idle lower.

wow, 10k idle. that is a hot motor!

here is just one example of someone else mentioning solid rollers and idle speed. sorry for a link to a non ford site (i just did a quick search)...

Solids and Idle

 

[buening]

Did he just use a dial indicator on each valve and check for ones that are different?

 

[Maxum96]

what's your idle speed? i really want to run a big solid roller cam in mine but have had concerns about the wear and tear. i have read numerous times that the key to making a big solid rollers survive on the street is to keep the idle speed up (1200-1500). apparently the solids need the additional oil splashing that occurs with elevated engine RPM's.

that was information that i found concerning solid roller cams. i'm not sure if the same is true for the solid flat tappets.

I don't think those of us running solid roller lifters have to worry about this issue.

 

[doug ford]

Mine is a solid flat tappet, not roller.

 

[doug ford]

Did he just use a dial indicator on each valve and check for ones that are different?

Do you mean to diagnose the problem? He knew without looking that the issue was a wiped cam just by my description. He was right too!