get a telescopic magnet, take all the plugs out, and pray
F.O.D.
Foriegn Object Damage. This is a term I learned about well in the US Air Force. Yesterday I got to experience it first hand. I changed the carb on my 79 Merc 351w. When I took the old carb off, I noticed a small metal washer fell dangerously close to the intake entrance. l looked down the hole. I looked WAY down the hole. I laid down on the engine and looked down the hole. Nothing. So I continued on to my mission. I crank it up and it ran and reacted to acceleration like a dream............then the nightmare.
I cant describe the noise. Sounded like somone was in the engine and trying to get out using a ball peen hammer. At times, it would almost disappear, then come back sounding like a metal object was getting beaten by the fan!!! F.O.D. This is the thing. I know the RIGHT thing would be to take the heads off and remove this object before it turns my piston to swiss cheese. Isn't there ANYTHING I can do first though? This is my daily driver and I can't be taking heads off right now, unless I actually take days off to do it. I was thinking: Stick a vacuum tube into the spark plug hole on all cylinders, so far that is my only idea. As a rule, I do things myself, but is there something that a more sophisticated shop can do to remove this object besides taking engine apart?
On a side note, do the rocker arm stud nuts get torqued down? I can't find the torque specs for them in the Chiltons manual.
_________________
KEN
Factory 65 Galaxie 500 390/4v
79 Mercury Marquis 351w/2v daily driver
No matter how complicated something is or seems, always start with the simple basics then work your way to the rocket science !!!
Me
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: v8shadow on 3/21/06 12:38am ]</font>
I cant describe the noise. Sounded like somone was in the engine and trying to get out using a ball peen hammer. At times, it would almost disappear, then come back sounding like a metal object was getting beaten by the fan!!! F.O.D. This is the thing. I know the RIGHT thing would be to take the heads off and remove this object before it turns my piston to swiss cheese. Isn't there ANYTHING I can do first though? This is my daily driver and I can't be taking heads off right now, unless I actually take days off to do it. I was thinking: Stick a vacuum tube into the spark plug hole on all cylinders, so far that is my only idea. As a rule, I do things myself, but is there something that a more sophisticated shop can do to remove this object besides taking engine apart?
On a side note, do the rocker arm stud nuts get torqued down? I can't find the torque specs for them in the Chiltons manual.
_________________
KEN
Factory 65 Galaxie 500 390/4v
79 Mercury Marquis 351w/2v daily driver
No matter how complicated something is or seems, always start with the simple basics then work your way to the rocket science !!!
Me
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: v8shadow on 3/21/06 12:38am ]</font>
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Pray like hell the washer that has damaged the hell out of your piston and probably broken your spark plug already is ONLY a washer and Pray that it hasn't scarred up the Cyl Wall or broken a ring lane and scarred that up to, also pray that the 30 or 50 times the piston came up that the washer was lying flat and not stanging on it's edge from the turbulence and poking holes into the piston and head, also pray that it did not get lodged into the exhaust port and break or bend your Exhaust and or Intake valve... V8.... Pray a LOT Brother! A LOT!
FE
_________________
I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have ourselves!
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: FEandGoingBroke on 3/21/06 12:51am ]</font>
FE
_________________
I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have ourselves!
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: FEandGoingBroke on 3/21/06 12:51am ]</font>
Well, I'll tell you something. I paid $1500 for this car 2yrs ago. It now has 91K miles on it. I was horrible on gas, but I blame the carb I just replaced. If my engine is ruined, sure it is a shame, but not a tragedy. I will try to vacuum it out of the cylinder using a rig wit a shop vac. If that doesn't do it, I don't know what is next for this car. I need a better reference source than chilton or haynes. They both suck bad. I cant even find out how to act upon the rockers once I loosen them. Sh**, it doesnt even have the gap listed for rocker arm valve clearance. DAMN IT!!!
_________________
KEN
Factory 65 Galaxie 500 390/4v
79 Mercury Marquis 351w/2v daily driver-might soon be pronounced dead.
No matter how complicated something is or seems, always start with the simple basics then work your way to the rocket science !!!
Me
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: v8shadow on 3/21/06 1:31am ]</font>
_________________
KEN
Factory 65 Galaxie 500 390/4v
79 Mercury Marquis 351w/2v daily driver-might soon be pronounced dead.
No matter how complicated something is or seems, always start with the simple basics then work your way to the rocket science !!!
Me
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: v8shadow on 3/21/06 1:31am ]</font>
For the 390, when tightening th erockers down go about 30 lbs maybe 35. They are not adjustable my friend so don't worry about that. If you want instructions on dis-and-re-assembly just pm me or drop me a phone call or e-mail me and I can walk you through it. One weekend day is all you need to replace a head gasket.
FE
FE
FUBAR !! Good Luck !! Pray.................
Lets put this simply, you're screwed. The more you drive it the more damage it causes. Vacuuming out the cylinder isn't going to save it. Pull the head and clean it out completely and see how much damage is already done. Do it right or you'll do it again.
Alot of God fearing people here I see. Good. It's fixed. I pulled a spark plug from the side I thought it was on. BINGO. Bent electrode. I rigged up something with my shop vac, but that really didnt pull anything out. So, I left the plug out and ran the engine. Accelerated it halfway let off and did the same over agan about five times. It blew whatever was in there out. I didnt find it mind you, but all noise is gone.
Whew!
Whew!
plug gap will be listed at around .050-.060, I believe all duraspark equipped vehicles are. The rockers are pedestal mount, the bolt is torqued to 35-ish (IIRC), lash is zero, as are all hydraulic lifter valvetrains. As a side note, both my Chilton and Haynes manual list the info you're looking for, they are for the granada/monarch series though, rather than the birds. Maybe they left it out, maybe you're not looking in the right spot. I don't think a vacuum would help you retrieve the washer, not enough suction, not enough surface area on the washer. A magnet would be your best bet, but it will be hard because it will be attracted to the head, valves, cylinder wall, etc. But it would be worth a shot. If you are able to fish it out, or at least determine which cylinder it is in (spark plug should let you know), remove the head and have a look see for damage.On 2006-03-20 10:03, v8shadow wrote:
Well, I'll tell you something. I paid $1500 for this car 2yrs ago. It now has 91K miles on it. I was horrible on gas, but I blame the carb I just replaced. If my engine is ruined, sure it is a shame, but not a tragedy. I will try to vacuum it out of the cylinder using a rig wit a shop vac. If that doesn't do it, I don't know what is next for this car. I need a better reference source than chilton or haynes. They both suck bad. I cant even find out how to act upon the rockers once I loosen them. Sh**, it doesnt even have the gap listed for rocker arm valve clearance. DAMN IT!!!
If it fouls the plug again you have your info. I hope you got lucky on this one. Keep a close eye on the water level and oil. Possible to crack and head and not know it yet. Still would pull that head, just for piece of mind. Weekend job. Good luck and drive her easy for a while.
yes check it out, you may have a hole in your piston, and the piece maybe now in you pan, check compression on that piston at least
You'd be suprised at what engines will put up with. Washers are soft and pliable, compared to most things in the cylinder. Watch the plug and drive it, it'll probably be fine.
Had a friend with a Monte Carlo running a 396. Broke a spring, dropped an intake valve that got bent and tweaked the guide. Had a good loud knock when it appeared in the driveway. Pulled the intake and one head, went to a shop and bought a cheap head gasket and an intake set, gave me a spare valve and spring from an old chebbie head they had in the back. Used a little valve compund and a drill to seat the valve, re-assembled, put it all back together and it idled fine - with a good knock, like a rod knock. Guy's got zero money, so I put in some 40wt and say drive it, good luck. A week later he calls and said the knock went away and the car runs fine.
Had a friend with a Monte Carlo running a 396. Broke a spring, dropped an intake valve that got bent and tweaked the guide. Had a good loud knock when it appeared in the driveway. Pulled the intake and one head, went to a shop and bought a cheap head gasket and an intake set, gave me a spare valve and spring from an old chebbie head they had in the back. Used a little valve compund and a drill to seat the valve, re-assembled, put it all back together and it idled fine - with a good knock, like a rod knock. Guy's got zero money, so I put in some 40wt and say drive it, good luck. A week later he calls and said the knock went away and the car runs fine.
I have to agree with Chris. I've ran a 3/8" nut through an engine and it marked up the piston a bit and then went out the exhaust valve. Didn't even hear it go through, noticed the marks on the piston when I pulled the heads later on.
BTW a washer won't stop a Turbo fan on an L1011 either, ask me how I know.
![]()
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1 Bad 88 GT on 3/21/06 10:02am ]</font>
BTW a washer won't stop a Turbo fan on an L1011 either, ask me how I know.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1 Bad 88 GT on 3/21/06 10:02am ]</font>
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Ford Muscle Cars Tech Forum
A forum community dedicated to Ford performance owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about popular models such as the Mustang, Galaxie, Falcon, Fairlane, Torino, Shelby and many more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
