Rocker arm shaft hold downs

Thanks for the information. I didn't do any of the previous engine work, only thing I've had done is new plugs, wires and we installed new headers. It was running ok but it always felt like there was a miss, always had good oil pressure and no valve train noise. The day it happened we went out to eat and when we got into the car and started it we heard loud metal clanging in the engine, still had oil pressure but shut the engine off and we had the car towed home. I talked to another member on here and he recommended to check the valve train, I thought I had spun a rod bearing. When I removed the valve covers that's when I saw both sides with rocker arms sticking straight up, no pushrods holding them in place, and I could see one pushrod bent that was still connected to the rocker arm and in the lifter seat. One pushrod on the drivers side was down in the valley pan area and not connected to anything. All the lifters were in the lifter bores and they were all smooth and oiled, slowly removed each one then replaced it in the same hole, checked for flatness and the cups to insure they weren't stuck, they all were good. A few pics of the engine.

214infantry said:

Thanks for the information. I didn't do any of the previous engine work, only thing I've had done is new plugs, wires and we installed new headers. It was running ok but it always felt like there was a miss, always had good oil pressure and no valve train noise. The day it happened we went out to eat and when we got into the car and started it we heard loud metal clanging in the engine, still had oil pressure but shut the engine off and we had the car towed home. I talked to another member on here and he recommended to check the valve train, I thought I had spun a rod bearing. When I removed the valve covers that's when I saw both sides with rocker arms sticking straight up, no pushrods holding them in place, and I could see one pushrod bent that was still connected to the rocker arm and in the lifter seat. One pushrod on the drivers side was down in the valley pan area and not connected to anything. All the lifters were in the lifter bores and they were all smooth and oiled, slowly removed each one then replaced it in the same hole, checked for flatness and the cups to insure they weren't stuck, they all were good. A few pics of the engine.

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So, no answers to the questions?

My throry ... Engine left sitting for a long period. Lifters bleed down. Motor does not get primed before being turned over and the pushrods fall out of the rocker cup. When those lifters come back up the pushrod(s) get bent.

Stanton said:

My throry ... Engine left sitting for a long period. Lifters bleed down. Motor does not get primed before being turned over and the pushrods fall out of the rocker cup. When those lifters come back up the pushrod(s) get bent.

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Could be. Sad state of affairs with todays hyd lifters. It sounds like it was the second trip of the day, but bled down lifters still seems plausable.

Bending could be from a couple PR getting caught under the shaft, or if the bent PR are from intake valves with the same cylinder exhaust PR that fell out could bend the intakes too.

Engine is back together, machine shop said bad exhaust valve seats on both heads caused the bent pushrods, new hardened exhaust seats were installed, new guides, springs and valves. Went back with stock exhaust manifolds instead of headers, car feels a lot better now and sounds great! It always seemed like it had a miss before. I'll post a video up another day of the car running. Here is a pic of the engine ready for startup after 3 months of down time. Have to thank Cranky for helping me out along the way and giving me some great tips and advice! Didn't think I would ever get it back together. Told the machine shop I wanted Chrysler Turquoise on the heads but they painted them orange. I've had limited time working the 12hr Dupont schedule with lot's of overtime over Thanksgiving and Christmas, and was ready to get it back together so I left the heads orange.