318 Poly head motor

[nitronut]

I'm looking to buy a '65 Belvedere II 4 door sedan with a stock 318 Poly motor. Not going to build the motor for muscle, just drive as a cruiser. (Already own a '69 Valiant with a built 360 to satisfy my need for speed). Does anyone know if the 318 poly comes stock with adjustable rockers? (Like the slant 6). The motor is a little noisy on one side - sounds like a tappet, not real loud but noticeable. The car has 59,000 miles on it. The oil is filthy and needs changing. I'm thinking once clean oil is put in and changed again after a couple hundred miles ... problem solved if it's a sticky lifter. Any recommendations on a good oil viscosity (10-40)? to run in a 318 Poly in the summer? Thanks....

 

[Schober Motorsports]

It is a stock solid lifter cam motor, has adj rockers from the factory.

 

[Dako]

It is a stock solid lifter cam motor, has adj rockers from the factory.

X2. Yes, adjustable rockers...solid lifters.

 

[Darter6]

1965 service manual shows poly 318 valve adjustment specs,, intake .013, exhaust .021 set at engine operating temp.

 

[mopar 3 B]

I have seen them with solid or hydraulic lifters. Have no idea if the hydrolics were adjustable.

 

[KarNut46]

P0ly engines (62 up all had solid lifters and needed to be adjusted occasionally. Another problem: if the engine has been abused, and you said the oil was nasty, there is a chance that the rocker system is plugged and one or more rockers are running sans oil. Check for oil flow when engine is running. I worked on a few of those engines back in the day and that was a fairly common problem. Unplugging things difficult. Rocker shaft somewhat difficult to remove in car. Also, passages in head will clog also. Remove valve cover on that side and see if there is oil flowing around all the rockers. If not then you are in for a bit of work. Nice car, even has orig hubcaps. Will be worth the effort.