65 - 302 Engine ruff on first starting

[Mstg007]

I have a 1965 - 302 with a 4bbl Carb.
In the mournings when i start the car, its really ruff and shakes and has a knock in the engine. Then, I rev up the engine for a few, it the ruffness goes away, but the knock is still there. I drive it to work and stop at lights and stuff, the knock goes away.
So, maybe when the engine is cold, i have a knock, but when it warm / hot, it goes away.

Any help would be great!
Thanks

[bmxmon]

I'd check your choke for the roughness when first started. Where is the knock coming from? Valve train? Perhaps a loose rocker. When was the last time your oil was changed, perhaps its just too thick until it gets warmed up. Also in 65 it was the 289, the 302 came in 68 I believe. Doesnt mean your 65 cant have a 302 in it, just that its not original.

[Mstg007]

I did a week ago take off the intake manifold and replace all lifters and retightened rocker arms. I did get a chance to replace the oil with a 10w-30 with slick50.

[Gearhead999]

First things first. Slick 50 is crap. Just snake oil.

If the "knock" is only in morning we need a little more info.

Did it knock before you changed the lifters?? If not, you have a valve[s] adjusted wrong or a bad lifter. Yes, new ones can be bad.

If it is deep in engine, and you had it before work, sounds hollow and goes away when warmed up. Could be piston.

On the rough running. I agree check choke. Also, if carb is leaking down overnight the fuel is in the engine and fouls out the spark plugs. This causes roughness on first start up and cleans itself out after several minutes.

[Phillyfanfrombirth]

Originally Posted by Mstg007

I did a week ago take off the intake manifold and replace all lifters and retightened rocker arms. I did get a chance to replace the oil with a 10w-30 with slick50.

It took me a long time to figure out how to tighten (hydraulic) rocker arms... hopefully you didn't do the same thing that I did when I first started getting into playing with engines... if you can't spin the pushrods on valves that are closed, after running the motor, you've got them too tight.

Something that no one mentioned... how's your timing and advance working? If you're getting detonation, that could be your problem.

[noahbdillion@yahoo.c]

Hey!!!
Any Ford man knows that they are "cold' starters, and like a few minutes to warm up.

Now that we have that out of the way, A 302 in a 65'? Where is the 289?

302's are okay, if it came from a BOSS.

is it a low end knock, or a "valve train" click?
A low end knock may be coming from a bearing about to give out.

He's right, slick 50 is crap.

Go to a 30 weight racing oil. Multi-viscosity oils are also crap.

The additives burn off,leaving the oil to do the job. problem is that its not the 4 quarts you need. You're now low on "real" oil.

The older engines used "leaded" gasoline. Whats the diff? The lead was an internal lubricant. Unleaded gas will cause poor performance.
Sometime engine "chatter". A good small block 4 barrel is a screamer and you'll enjoy it when you get inside her head. Machines have personalities. The way you treat her, like reving her when she's cold will create more problems than it solves.

Don't always use the book to tune her up. My 69' was supposed to be 181/2 degree dwell. but she would not run at that. my uncle fine turned her with a glass of water on the air cleaner, and set the dwell by hand. NOT by the book.

Its all in being an owner that has feeling, mixed with technology and a lot of bailing wire and duct tape.

I'm still curious about the 302.

I now have a 289 66' coupe. like I said, "Lois Lane" is a real screamer. What do you call your ride?

[bmxmon]

Originally Posted by noahbdillion@yahoo.c

302's are okay, if it came from a BOSS.

I think a couple people would argue that one with ya

[Gearhead999]

Correction.....quite a few people will argue that a 302 Boss or not is a great engine.