Thanks for the reading Savannah. Your Disco is a fine example of what nobody wants to see when they open one up ! It's a challenge, but it's an opportunity too ! It does sort of look like somebody was there before and didn't dot all their "I"s and cross all their "T"s. Not to mention the amount of sludge in there.

 

The sludge is proof that Rotella and Marvel Mystery Oil and BG oil treatment may take longer to work on good case of it than you might imagine. And I know that the sludge is holding some of the seals together. Once you reach the baked on stage physical force will be required.

I priced the rocker arm sets from Rovers North and blacked out, $1396 each side. Most places are a lot less, and the boneyard is about $19.

I hope these photos will encourage others to change oil early and often, and keep the PCV system is clear working order.

 

The only potential issue with used rockers is that the condition of the bearing surface is an unknown. When metal particles wear off of other areas of the engine and get carried by the oil they can embed themselves in the softer rockers. That turns them into little rocker-shaft killing machines. A new rocker shaft may be worn out relativley quickly by old rockers. A lower mileage used set may be better than what you have but it may wear out quicker than you expect. But you will likely get $19 worth.

 

you could buy racerx roller rockers for less than Rover North that's scarry. So when are you going to drop the pan to see what is in there?

 

Instead of buying the complete sets, you can get just the shafts and the individual arms.

 

Session 8

Got some exhaust bolts off before rain. Some carb cleaner removed some gunk, and second machine shop 35 miles away is set up to do valve job, seals, skim heads, hot tank, all for $250; 3 days. Smaller shop ($45 skim per head) had no working hot tank. Second shop was surprised at price of gaskets, they had another Rover and dealer had quoted $700+ for a gasket set.

Guess pan will have to wait, unless I jack it up. Didn't park it on the ramps, if I had I'm not sure I could get to everything. The brush bar in front provides a tummy resting point, being afflicted with Dunlap's Disease (tummy done lapped over da belt).

I can imagine that the main bearings leave a lot to be desired.

I saw what looked like candle wick shaped sludge inside the rocker "towers", so I will take them all apart and post pix.

 

my heads cost 187+ tax, clean and glass bead heads, pressure test heads, check heads, cut heads

I did not have the seals done since mine does not smoke or lose oil and have rebuilder discs on them plus they wanted 150 per head to install them ouch ( guessing they did not want to be bothered)

 

This shop says they'll do the valve job as well, they said no point doing the seals with out the valves. I've seen their shop before, it is the kind of place where you could eat off the floor. I'm just tired of the daily rains, can't get anything done under the shade tree. I'm only able to do about 1 -2 hours or less each day.

 

buzz I was able to jack mine up by the pumpkin with a floor jack high enough to get ramps under to pull the oil pan, I agree about not being able to easily work under the hood with the rig up high this is why I did this before getting the big springs

 

Good to know.

Session 9

Got right side exhaust off, mirror and a small chisle do wonders at finding the fold up lock tab.

On this side, the head bolts were torqued, and I got out my cheater pipe. So previous head work skipped at least one set of 90 degree torque steps on the left side head.

Got to the back two bolts on the head and discovered that any short 1/2 inch ratchet extension I ever owned has gone to live with Elvis. Parts store on the way to work. Hope to get head off and both dropped off tomorrow.

Right side rocker is cleaning up. Note buildup inside one of the towers. IMHO if you have valve covers open, worth taking these off with four bolts so you can clean this out and the companion hole in the head.