454 chev big block broken pushrods,

[trog100]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

the rusty plugs suggest water in the engine right from the start.. the water caused valves to rust solid in their guides.. hence broken or bent pushrods.. course the engine would have to sit a while for the valves to rust solid enough to bend or break pushrods so it was like this when u got it probably.. and the damage was caused when the engine was first fired up having sat for while..<br /><br />someone should have noticed right at the beginning that something wasnt right..<br /><br />trog100

 

[Dean J S]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

To Trog100. I'm with you. though the engine has only been in the boat since 10 Dec 04. The water wasn't noticed till about mid Jan I suppose thats about 1 month. Is that long enough? <br /><br />Does the fact that the Outdrive (leg) has somesort of hose on it that is "broken in half" mean something dangerous? Please tell me.<br /><br />We are taking photos & will probably need to have that looked at too. Especially seeing the mechanic has charged us to SERVICE THE LEG. <br /><br />We just noticed it today we have pulled the boat out of the water & it is slipped in our backyard. We have pulled out the engine & sent it to a reconditioning specialist to pull apart & make a report. Looks like we may be off to court.

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

engine has only been in the boat since 10 Dec 04. The water wasn't noticed till about mid Jan I suppose thats about 1 month. Is that long enough? <br />

If it was salt water, it wouldn't take that long.<br /><br />

Does the fact that the Outdrive (leg) has somesort of hose on it that is "broken in half" mean something dangerous? Please tell me.<br />

That hose (Assuming you have a Mercruiser) has nothing to do with the internals of the engine.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

I agree with trog's diagnosis. Water in the engine cause valves to sieze, and that caused pushrods to break.<br /><br />Do a search for a iboats member named "scamper" he had similar problems.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Bondo]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

we have pulled the boat out of the water & it is slipped in our backyard. We have pulled out the engine & sent it to a reconditioning specialist to pull apart & make a report. Looks like we may be off to court.

That's Too Bad........... <br />I can see where You're going to be left with your Butt in Your Hand, on the Courthouse Steps..............<br />I see All of the Blame Squarely on the shoulders of Yourself,+ Your Mechanic Installer.........<br />The Red Flags were Slapping You in the Face,+ You Chose to continue to run the motor............<br />

my 454 chev big block has been running rough, since i put it in my boat.<br />& the marine mechanic who installed said it didn't sound right from the start.<br />Timing was always out only ran at 39 degrees advanced. <br /> & still it only ran well idling but not under load.<br /> Took off knock sensor & it run under load well only did that for 10 mins. cause we did that ourselves.<br />Went back next day & it started, we took off & it laboured again.

This poor motor had Major Issues from the time you First Started it......<br />Rather than Diagnose the Issues,.........You Ran It......<br />At this point, Reguardless of What your "reconditioning specialist" finds,....... You Don't have a Leg to Stand On.............<br /><br />When an engine Doesn't Run Right,......... There's a Reason,........ You HAVE to Find it.........<br /><br />I Usually say "Good Luck" here, But in Your case,... I think you're All Out............ Sorry....

 

[CHARGER]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

Unfortunately I can see the supplier blaming the installer, and I can see the installer blaming the supplier and you being left to foot all the bills, and the fact that you have ran it and its been a couple of months since the purchase I dont think you have any hope.<br /><br />Similar thing happened to me in a car I had, sump plug fell out after a $4000 engine build during my running in period about a week after they did the 500km oil change, I was looking for someone to blame then realised I didnt have a leg to stand on.

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

I see All of the Blame Squarely on the shoulders of Yourself,+ Your Mechanic Installer.........<br />

I have to agree 100%<br />Your marine mechanic isn't, if he allowed it to go that far.

 

[newport dave]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

I have to agree with Bondo,Don and others. The builder will never take responsibility now. I think his explaination may not be correct, but running the engine until it failed was a critical mistake.<br /><br />Somebody help me. What problems would cause an engine to need 39 degrees of advance to run?<br />Spark plugs too short?<br />Fuel / air ratio too lean?<br />Improper cam timing?<br />Wrong cam?<br />Incorrect firing order?<br />Something else???<br /><br />Also, I'm ok with the rusted/stuck valve/bent pushrod thing, but he said that it ran good one day(at idle, and under load with the knock sensor "removed") and then the pushrods were bent and water was in the engine the next day?<br /><br />And is this thing carbed or EFI?<br /><br />Dave

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

Improper cam timing, cams ground wrong, timing marks wrong or got the timing light on number 2 through 8, not 1. <br /><br />Aldo

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

I use a high lift “auto” cam (within reason) and I don't think that is his problem. The cam would have to enormous. I am leaning toward the sticking valve idea, bad valve springs. Or wicked bad timing issue. Spark plugs, not a chance.<br />I installed a set of roller rocker that had a bad design for oiling once. Bent pushrods and a valve when they sized up. When the exhaust valve bent it allowed water to be sucked out of the exhaust manifold by the piston stroke and pumped into the motor. IMO the water in the motor was the result of something else happening.

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

ive come across a similar engine once. it had the wrong flywheel. i seem to recall another 454 marine i came across that was bending pushrods. imma have to check my notes.

 

[Don S]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

I can understand how the wrong flywheel could cause a vibration, and even break starters, but bend push rods????????

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

only thing that bends pushrods on a big block is mechanical interference. either the cam timing was wrong. improper valvetrain adjustment. the mkiV used the lash method the rest use a torque method. improper piston for the head design or a valve stuck in its guide. spark timing will have no affect on mechanical valve train timing. wrong plugs wont bother a valve. a bad valvespring may allow the valve to hang open but usually results in a poor idle and most use a damper spring that will prevent the valve from just dropping. I did see a MKIV valve train adjusted using the MKV adjustment procedure. after I got done laughing I fixed it. was not cheap but they did learn a lesson.<br /> so now your down to asking the supplier to help or tear it all down and try to figgure out what started all of it. take careful notes on dissasembly. especially cam timing marks and such. then figgure out what is usable and what is trash and go some more.I think all the late style one piece crank seal flywheels are all he same for the 7.4. there were some differences in the 402,396,427 and 454 before about 1985.

 

[Flukinicehole]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

Pull timing cover Im willing to bet cam timing.<br />At 39 degrees of advance you are past timing for WOT.<br /><br /><br /> MOPAR-My Old Pig Aint Running.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

cam timing and ign timing really have no relationship other than they are both called timing.

 

[trog100]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

ozzies problem has changed a bit.. its not what caused his replacement engine not to run right.. its more about whether or not he has any comeback against the guy who sold the bloody thing to him in the first place..<br /><br />i think the engine was duff right from the word go.. but two months and a few mistakes down the line can he do anything about it..???<br /><br />ozzie.. does have my sympathies whether he has acted wisely or not to be honest..<br /><br />trog100

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

I got an idea:<br /><br />IF you trust the builder, (cheap parts in rebuild possibly)<br /><br />At this point I would suggest trying to work out a deal with the guy.<br /><br />YOU buy the parts including all aplicable taxes, and he supplies the labor, and you both put it in together over a few beers or whatever.<br /><br />You might be surprised to learn how far "being nice" to your mechanic will go.<br /><br />By the way, New engines ALWAYS get new manifolds right?

 

[Dean J S]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

Yes we got new manifolds & risers. Had the outdrive serviced though it looks like they did not replace the bellows which has a gaping hole. First mechanic mistake was not noticing oil plugs & water plugs not all in place. pulls out engine puts them in, puts engine back in boat, ran engine then discovers camshaft plugs missing???? Pull out engine again put camshaft plugs in & check bearings?? All ok. Fit engine to boat AGAIN & test run still no good - took 6 hrs. Wats up with this guy. To me hes wat us ozzies call a BUSH mechanic. The bottom line is the mechanic is charging us AU$8,000 for installing an engine that he could not get going & the engine supplier would not come & see what was wrong with it either. He just kept saying its an electrical problem. The mechanic tried a new Electronic Control Module (links to knock sensor) & tried to tune up (this took him 4hrs). Still engine not running. Could this guy have overheated the engine trying to get it going for 4 hours straight - if he is telling the truth. One assumes at idle it would overheat more than if it was running under load - how say you?

 

[jimmythekid]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

Originally posted by Flukinicehole:<br /> <br /> MOPAR-My Old Pig Aint Running.

Mine isin't either, its at the end of the track shutdown waitin for you to finish :0<br /><br />ozzie: <br />sound more like a CLINTON mechanic to me. <br /><br />I would not try to cut a deal with him, find a new mechanic. <br /><br />And certainly wouldn't let him be drinkin any beers while working. Maybe thats what went wrong.<br /><br />If there were no cam plugs or oil galley plugs in it and he ran it, you have found your answer. You need a new engine.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 454 chev big block broken pushrods,

Originally posted by jimmythekid:<br />

If there were no cam plugs or oil galley plugs in it and he ran it, you have found your answer. You need a new engine.

This engine is toasted, needs to be completly torn down and inspected. As to who is responsable for what, You got me on this one, but your mechanic (NOT A MECHANIC), is inept.!!!