Thanks, Spike. The metal rod "stethoscope" on the cats/exhaust was quiet and pounding on it at the exhaust shop revealed nothing. It sounds more like it's coming from inside the engine on the driver's side up near the valve covers. I had a shop listen to it and say, "sounds like a cam and lifters. $650 plus parts and we can do it just after New Years." Not really ready to just start throwing stuff at it. Close, but not quite.

 

Removing valve cover, inspecting rocker arms and such, even running at idle and pressing on them slightly may reveal the issue to be the top end. Like a broken rocker arm.

Removing plug wires one at a time may reveal which cylinder, when explosions are not happening less pressure on the parts. But that is usually more often a bearing.

 

Don't know what I was thinking with the pushrods. They're solid on a Rover. The lubrication comes from the rocker, with the oil flowing into the push rod seat from the shaft through a passage in the rocker. I would look for blockage in the ports leading to the shaft, in the shaft and in the rockers. Those are good places for dislodges sludge to accumulate.

 

Buy new rockers off of ebay - the whole shaft - if you need it.

 

I'd junk the crap rocker arm system and the OEM setup. If you are going to rebuild, you are better off with roller rocker arms, hollow push rod oiling and small block Buick lifters. Set it and forget it.

RELIABILITY is number 1 for me.


mak

 

Man thanks for that. I had mine out a couple weeks ago and checked them, thought for sure they were solid. I just read your post and thought ****, need to pull it apart again, lol.

 

They are not solid, they are hollow with pressed in ball ends. Solid = to much mass. Length is 8.025 inches. Just clarifying.

MAK

 

Yes, the shafts are hollow and the ends are solid. I referred to them as solid because you can't look through them but that isn't accurate.

 

Well, new rod bearings, main bearings, oil pump gears, cam and lifters and it's still knocking under 1500 RPMs. Louder now than before. I don't remember oil pressure numbers, but they were all within spec. Everything else, (rocker arms) looked great. The lifters and cam were visibly worn on several cylinders.

Is there something else that I'm missing? It's with a reputable shop now. It's just driving me insane!

 

Jesus, bro.

My sympathies are with you.