Bent a pushrod

Stang951 · 06-21-2003, 10:53 AM

Yesterday I finally got the MSD box back (they repaired and updated everything under warratny). After installing it and the noise filter I went for a test drive. Everything was fine. Then I picked up the wife to drive her to the body shop to get her van. On the way there the car started making a horrible popping noise. Then she heard a bang and the engine wouldn't idle at all and stalled out. I pulled into a parking lot and restarted the car. Told her to keep it running and opened the hood. The popping almost made me deaf. No more tapping noise though.
I drove the car home and later on took the passenger side valve cover off:

What I think happend is this:
The pushrod adjuster on the exhaust vavel backed out of the rocker(the tapping noise). It fell all of the way out and the exahust valve would not open. ON the next cycle after it would not open the compression in the cylinder kept the intake valve from opening, causing the pushrod to bend and the rocker bolt to snap in the head. the Rocker arm then rotated toward the exahsaust valve and the pushrod was pressing the rocker arm against the valve stem..hence the new dimple in the side of the rocker.

Now I need some contact info for OMEGA PERFORMANCE. They are the ones who manufactured the rocker arms and I need to see about gettting a new rocker bolt. And I also need to see if maybe I got a defective rocker adjuster and how to check that out.
Anyone got any ideas. I knwo a bunch of people are running Omega stuff, but I can't find anything about them on the web.

Coupe50h · 06-21-2003, 11:05 AM

Would be a good time to upgrade to some arp bolt/stud??

Man that looks like it made a nasty noise, i hate to see that, especially since my valves are floating and all

good luck

Stang951 · 06-21-2003, 11:28 AM

I was contemplating going to a stud mount rocker arm, but I dont know what is involved in converting the heads.

Stang951 · 06-24-2003, 04:45 PM

The first number(888-338-9169) if for engine works. The second number (866-870-0406) is constantly busy. I found the Omega Performance decals and the phone number on them(863-467-3000) is no good. I get the feeling that I am going to have to buy some new rocker arms from a company that actually still exists.

Before I go and do that though, does anyone know if I can get a bolt that will work with the rockers so I dont have have the car totally dead for a year (daycare for the 2 kids is getting to be a killer).

06-21-2003, 10:53 AM	#1
Stang951 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Metairie, La. USA Posts: 132	Bent a pushrod Yesterday I finally got the MSD box back (they repaired and updated everything under warratny). After installing it and the noise filter I went for a test drive. Everything was fine. Then I picked up the wife to drive her to the body shop to get her van. On the way there the car started making a horrible popping noise. Then she heard a bang and the engine wouldn't idle at all and stalled out. I pulled into a parking lot and restarted the car. Told her to keep it running and opened the hood. The popping almost made me deaf. No more tapping noise though. I drove the car home and later on took the passenger side valve cover off: What I think happend is this: The pushrod adjuster on the exhaust vavel backed out of the rocker(the tapping noise). It fell all of the way out and the exahust valve would not open. ON the next cycle after it would not open the compression in the cylinder kept the intake valve from opening, causing the pushrod to bend and the rocker bolt to snap in the head. the Rocker arm then rotated toward the exahsaust valve and the pushrod was pressing the rocker arm against the valve stem..hence the new dimple in the side of the rocker. Now I need some contact info for OMEGA PERFORMANCE. They are the ones who manufactured the rocker arms and I need to see about gettting a new rocker bolt. And I also need to see if maybe I got a defective rocker adjuster and how to check that out. Anyone got any ideas. I knwo a bunch of people are running Omega stuff, but I can't find anything about them on the web. __________________ Engine: 1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Performer set-up MSD ignition Suspension: Maximum Motorsports Caster-Camber Plates / Maximum Motorsports adjustable lower control arms / FRPP heavy duty upper control arms / Tokico Illumina Shocks and Struts / Ground Pounder Coil Over conversion kit front / Steeda cross brace sub-frame connectors / Drivetrain: Tremec 3550 trans / Steeda Tri-Ax shifter / Spec Stage II clutch and pressure plate / Spec aluminum flywheel / 5.8 in the hole

06-21-2003, 11:05 AM	#2
Coupe50h Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SanAntonio, Tx Posts: 957	Would be a good time to upgrade to some arp bolt/stud?? Man that looks like it made a nasty noise, i hate to see that, especially since my valves are floating and all good luck __________________ X-Texas highway patrol ssp 1990 coupe - exploder Gt-40 iron heads, Explorer intake, 19 lber's. E-cam. crane 1.7 rollers. 190fp. 75mm maf. 65mm tb, tubular subframe connectors, mac cai, Asp crank pulley, T-5, king cobra clutch, flowtech 1-5/8 unequals, mac X-pipe Frpp driveshaft, lakewood Lca's. race weight 3,160 12.69 @ 107.35, 1.71 60' 26x8.5 drag's 3.90 gear 13.20 @ 106.91 - 235/60/15 firestones 2.3 60' 3.27 gear

06-21-2003, 11:28 AM	#3
Stang951 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Metairie, La. USA Posts: 132	I was contemplating going to a stud mount rocker arm, but I dont know what is involved in converting the heads. __________________ Engine: 1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Performer set-up MSD ignition Suspension: Maximum Motorsports Caster-Camber Plates / Maximum Motorsports adjustable lower control arms / FRPP heavy duty upper control arms / Tokico Illumina Shocks and Struts / Ground Pounder Coil Over conversion kit front / Steeda cross brace sub-frame connectors / Drivetrain: Tremec 3550 trans / Steeda Tri-Ax shifter / Spec Stage II clutch and pressure plate / Spec aluminum flywheel / 5.8 in the hole

06-24-2003, 04:45 PM	#4
Stang951 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Metairie, La. USA Posts: 132	The first number(888-338-9169) if for engine works. The second number (866-870-0406) is constantly busy. I found the Omega Performance decals and the phone number on them(863-467-3000) is no good. I get the feeling that I am going to have to buy some new rocker arms from a company that actually still exists. Before I go and do that though, does anyone know if I can get a bolt that will work with the rockers so I dont have have the car totally dead for a year (daycare for the 2 kids is getting to be a killer). __________________ Engine: 1990 5.8 / Edelbrock Performer set-up MSD ignition Suspension: Maximum Motorsports Caster-Camber Plates / Maximum Motorsports adjustable lower control arms / FRPP heavy duty upper control arms / Tokico Illumina Shocks and Struts / Ground Pounder Coil Over conversion kit front / Steeda cross brace sub-frame connectors / Drivetrain: Tremec 3550 trans / Steeda Tri-Ax shifter / Spec Stage II clutch and pressure plate / Spec aluminum flywheel / 5.8 in the hole

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