New day, new problems.

[biggjimm]

Need a new cam & lifters

As some of you know, I've been resurrecting our '76 140 Mercruiser powered Rinker. It just hasn't ran 100% regardless of what I've done. Last time out, it started slowly losing power & then started popping thru the exhaust & the intake. Just a bit at first but by the time I got back to the ramp it was popping quite a bit. I decided to check the rocker arm adjustments since my father in law had put a cam & lifters in her the beginning of the last season she was on the water which was about 3 years ago. Yesterday I pulled the valve cover off & #1 exhaust valve & #3 intake valve are barely moving. Only opening about 1/4 inch max. The camshaft is smoked. Ask my father in law about how he adjusted them & he just tightened them to where the push rod would stay in the rocker arm. Really? I was sick that spring so he did the cam job himself but called me to come out & clock the distributor & I never thought to make sure he had done the valves correctly. One, he has helped me build countless engines & two, I guess I figured a guy wouldn't tackle a cam & lifters if he didn't know what he's doing. Silly me. Anyways, now we need a new cam & lifters & last time we had trouble finding one & my machinist at the shop I used got one for me but he has since passed & I have know clue where he sourced it from. I've only found used ones on eBay. Anybody know where to get a new cam & lifters for this old girl? Again it's a '76 140 mercruiser serial #4463100

 

[riz]

How do you know the camshaft is smoked?

 

[Grub54891]

Don't panic. Check the sticks at the top of the forum, adjust the valves properly. I'd say that is all that is needed. It should have not toasted the cam that quickly. Now if they were to tight, it may have burnt a valve, but do a correct adjustment first. And timing.

 

[biggjimm]

Riz & grub,
The lobes are gone on those two that are not opening. I was going to adjust them but after pulling the cam cover & the lifters I can visually see the lobes are gone. I was hoping to be able to run through the valves & save the day but that's not the case. I'm going to start another thread because I've got more problems today. Getting real close to just doing a complete overhaul of this engine.

 

[biggjimm]

After finding the camshaft toast yesterday, I noticed a small trickle of water coming from behind the intake/exhaust manifold so I put the water hose to her & the little stream turned into a big one. Now I'm a little concerned. Pulled the manifold & behind the gasket are two core plugs hidden in the head & for some reason they are steel rather than brass like the ones in the block. Front one was rusted out & looked like the head gasket might have been seeping too as it was rusty so I pulled the head also (compression was 142/143 on #'s 1 & 4 cyl. & around 133/134 on #'s 2 & 3, not terribly bad but being adjacent cyl's & the possible corrosion of the head gasket I pulled the head) & the gasket was leaking between 2 & 3. Just barely but leaking none the less. Now on to my concern, there is a crack in the manifold on the bottom, from the water jacket to the outside. It wasn't leaking but its cracked about 2 inches. Also i snapped 3 bolts on the end caps that I've got to deal with. I'm not above doing the JB weld thing on the manifold (if it passes a pressure test to the int/exh ports) I can always keep my eye out for one & replace it later. There is a couple on eBay but they are from like '83 or so or newer with what I believe are called Siamese ports on the head & manifold & I'm guessing that they are not interchangeable from my old style with more rectangular ports to the newer style funny shaped ports? Is this correct? If by chance they are interechangeable or I can find the correct year for mine I'd go ahead & replace it now since Iv'e got broken bolts to mess with also. Jim.

 

[Grub54891]

Alright then! Hope it goes well.

 

[Fishermark]

What are you working on?

 

[Bondo]

After finding the camshaft toast yesterday, I noticed a small trickle of water coming from behind the intake/exhaust manifold so I put the water hose to her & the little stream turned into a big one. Now I'm a little concerned. Pulled the manifold & behind the gasket are two core plugs hidden in the head & for some reason they are steel rather than brass like the ones in the block. Front one was rusted out & looked like the head gasket might have been seeping too as it was rusty so I pulled the head also (compression was 142/143 on #'s 1 & 4 cyl. & around 133/134 on #'s 2 & 3, not terribly bad but being adjacent cyl's & the possible corrosion of the head gasket I pulled the head) & the gasket was leaking between 2 & 3. Just barely but leaking none the less. Now on to my concern, there is a crack in the manifold on the bottom, from the water jacket to the outside. It wasn't leaking but its cracked about 2 inches. Also i snapped 3 bolts on the end caps that I've got to deal with. I'm not above doing the JB weld thing on the manifold (if it passes a pressure test to the int/exh ports) I can always keep my eye out for one & replace it later. There is a couple on eBay but they are from like '83 or so or newer with what I believe are called Siamese ports on the head & manifold & I'm guessing that they are not interchangeable from my old style with more rectangular ports to the newer style funny shaped ports? Is this correct? If by chance they are interechangeable or I can find the correct year for mine I'd go ahead & replace it now since Iv'e got broken bolts to mess with also. Jim.

Ayuh,.... Jim,.... use yer "Enter" button once 'n awhile to form paragraphs will ya,..??

I'm/ We're tryin' to Help ya here,...... I can't read that,.....

Make it Easy for Us, Please,..??..??

I'm gonna merge yer threads, so's yer info is all together,......

 

[Bondo]

Btw,..... I suggest ya find a runnin' freshwater take-out motor,.....

Part yer's out to help pay for it,.....

 

[biggjimm]

Sorry Bondo, I'll try to not be so long winded & break it up into paragraphs.
I think before I got another motor that I know nothing about, I'd just go ahead & go all the way through this one & freshen it up. Then I'll know exactly what I have.

Fishermark, it's a '76 mercruiser 140 3.0L

Looks like there is a new cam & lifters showing on eBay now so I'll call them after the holiday & see exactly what it is & if it fits my application. And I'll figure out something with this manifold. Thanks guys. Jim.