Finally got the '05 Lincoln Town Car back on the road after a 1 1/2yr hiatus. Could now turn my attention to my '70 Electra. Been wrenching on it here and there. But finally got around to the leaky valve cover gaskets. Started with the driver's side. Once I got the cover off, noticed something quite odd with one of the rocker arms. That tab sticking out in front of the middle rocker arm, looked a bit out of place. Then took another photograph head on to the snout of the rocker arm and found a very poorly cast aluminum rocker with a crack running up the center. Very surprised this rocker ever made it passed quality control to be honest. The casting looks quite bad. Also looks like it's been this way for awhile. Haven't yet pulled the passenger's side. But, I am going to order a complete set of new rocker arms, pushrods, rocker keepers (one is missing), and if warranted, rocker shaft. Anyway, wasn't sure if any of you long time Buick, shoot, any engine builder has seen a rocker such as this. Ordered a new speedometer driven gear, O-rings and related parts to help keep trans fluid in the transmission. This is one more "to do" on the growing list of stuff I'm replacing and/or repairing on this car. Nope, still don't have it on the road yet. Someday......... sooon.... Paul
You are pretty fortunate. Looks like it did it's job in spite of the bad rocker. If the pushrod and valve tip and face of the rocker tip are in good shape, then the lifter and cam are likely fine. And pressing on with your plan appears correct.
Thanks TrunkMonkey. I do feel fortunate! Friends and coworkers asking why she’s not on the road yet. Frankly, with a 50+ year old car and zero maintenance documentation. Going to be going over what I can with what I have to make sure I don’t damage something I could’ve caught by going over the car as best I can. Still curious about the passenger’s side. Going to try to get to that today if I have time.
If friends and co-workers are not buying parts or spinning ratchets, turn up the radio. You spend that time and satisfy yourself it is as you want it. Too many folks get in a hurry on older vehicles and break things that are hard and costly to replace. But we need to see a picture or three...
TrunkMonkey, I posted up some pics of ye old land yacht over in the newbie section. RustyFuryIII being my handle. Pics should be there from a couple months ago. Will post up pics of passenger’s side valve train if anything notable is discovered. I’m hoping nothing notable is found! Paul
I just wandered over and took a look. That's a very nice boat! I am hit or miss on the brocade/patterned upholstery, but I like this one.
TrunkMonkey, Thanks! Yeah, been looking awhile and took the plunge. Prices weren’t getting cheaper on rust free, straight, clean unmolested cars. It ticked all the right boxes for me with the exception of the brocade pattern on the seats. I’m okay with it, doesn’t bother me really. The Mrs. loves the seats so it’s all good. Every time I get in the car though, I’m thinking the only thing missing are frilly white doilies on the arm rests, the smell of moth balls and a lil old lady siping tea……. Grandma??? Despite how good the body and chassis are, it needs a lot of attention mechanically. It doesn’t smoke, no ticking. Idles just okay, timing and carb need some attention. Just turning over as many stones as I can before I feel confident in the engine, suspension, brakes etc. In my youth, I would’ve payed the cash and left like my hair was on fire. And addressed the problems as they arose or got towed so repairs could be made. Not today, not now with an older car such as this. Paul
Sounds peaceful I like it when one of the dogs (usually Max) will just lay down and chill on the garage floor " This is cool Dad, Im chillin'"
Bad casting comment reminded me of something I saw about 30 years ago when I was a mechanic at a Chevy dealer. Nice lady with a barely out of warranty pickup had brought it into a dealer for work she should have taken elsewhere. (Rotate, balance wheels, check brakes etc). I remember looking at the brake drum on the right rear and seeing a solid 180 degree arc balance weights welded on. Pretty common to see a couple inches of those but not what was probably 15 solid uninterrupted inches!!! Pulled the drum and you could see light through a section about 6 inches along under the weights. A lot of light, it was a terrible casting and a huge crack was about to turn into something catastrophic. The service manager called GM and they begrudgingly replaced it out of warranty. How did someone in the brake drum place put that much weight on a drum without it setting a flag?
LOL, when I was working on a Mustang last fall at work this Bee kept coming over to me and hovering in my face, I told him " Im busy, come back later" well he did for about a week, he kept stopping by " Dude, Im busy" Get it, "Busy Bee" HAHAHAHAHAHA Stupid humor
Sorry for derailing this string even more, but here is atleast to me a unexplainable event to this day! I was working at a tire and brake shop in a management position. In comes flatbed with a women’s Jeep on it with a flat front tire. It gets off loaded and a have a worker go over with a floor jack where it sat to remove the wheel so we would not have to drive it on the rim and beat it up even more. next thing I know all 6 workers are standing around the tire with a amazed look on there faces. I go into take a look and there is a railroad tie spike thru the tire, not only that but the spike had punctured its way right thru the Aluminum rim! Now a RR spike is by no means sharp, so number 1) how was this spike sitting in a position to be driven over to puncture a tire, and 2) how was it in the right position and hit hard enough to also go thru the rim? to this day how this took place is a mystery for me!
Not really surprised, it happens quite often with obscure objects on the road that people drive over, it’s definitely a jaw dropper. Ever see the movie “Final Destination”? I’m a firm believer in **** happens, it’s all designed and planned out
Odd things do make it into a tire. Was driving my ‘72 Super Beetle around a turn on a side road. Was leaving a stoplight to make this right hand turn. Next thing I know, the rear right end of the car is going up. I thought, no way I’m driving over the curb, I’m not even in the gutter yet. Then, bam, down I go, followed by clunk, clunk, clunk. I had driven just fast enough to stand a 5/8” diameter by 7”L piece of rebar up with the front right tire, leaving the rebar at the correct angle for the rear tire to ride the rebar straight up. Then the rebar punched through the tread. The kicker? The rebar was flat on each end. No point whatsoever. Kept that rebar in the glovebox as long as I owned the car! The VW always was a fun lil car to scoot around in though. Sill haven’t pulled the passenger’s side valve cover yet. Still a laundry list of chores to do around the house. Thought things would slow down a bit once the kids moved out. Nope! Still lots of other things to do. She’s calling at me though. Walk past her everyday to get to one of the other vehicles. Enjoy, Paul
