94 4.6 Blown head gasket

[ARK51294]

I got a car that was taken apart. It had a blown driver side head gasket. I took it got it fixed. Go to put it back on . I can't get the cams lined up. this is the third time takeing it all apart. According to the Chiltons book. It Looks like I have it lined up correctly. But, the last rocker arm closet to the firewall has no connecttion to it. I can just knock it off its perch. Apparently that is not going to fly. Can anyone help me with this. It is driving me nuts. Diagram something. Thanks

[ModMech]

This is on a 4.6l V-8 right??????

It's not really a rocker arm, but a "cam follower", it doesn't really matter much what you call it though.

Is the head bolted down already, and you are now trying to get the cams in? Is that right?

All the lash adjusters should be about the same free height (VERY close), as should all the valve stems before the cam is installed.

[ARK51294]

Yes its a V8, I am use to chevy's. Know nothing about these single overhead cam engines. The head is already bolted down. What is a lash adjuster? You have the lifters with the pushrod built in to it. The valve spring. And what you are calling a cam follower. I put them all in there place. Then I put the cam on and line it up according to the chiltons book. Put the brackets on and tighten it down. And the last cam follower can just fall off. It has no contact with the cam. Don't know what I did wrong.

[ModMech]

OK, yes I see.

There is no "pushrod". One end of the follower rests on the "Hydraulic Valve Lash Adjuster" (the end it piviots on), and the other on the valve stem.

Based upon your description, I think you have a collapsed adjuster or stuck valve. At NO TIME should there be any freeplay in the follower with the cam bolted down properly. The lash adjuster is spring loaded, and should push upward on the follower to keep it firmly seated against the cam.

What you seem to have, is the equivelant of a "collapsed lifter".

[ARK51294]

OK so That is probably the one that was in conjunction with the valve that failed to give them water in the oil. So I need to get a set of lash adjusters. when I had the cam out of alignment and i took the valve cover off I had 3 cam followers off out of place.

[ARK51294]

Now I am dealing with the driverside head. I have the crank on TDC. The passenger side cam is in place to were the chiltons book says it needs to be. I have to line the driver side cam up like it shows in the book. But I would think I would have to go off the keyway. The cam gear has the keyway and there is a nub on it. Well in the book the nub is showen on the opposite side of the keyway. I would think the diagram is incorrect.

[ARK51294]

OK I got new Lash Adjusters. Slid the one in where the other was loose. And nothing has changed. The cam follower can still fall off.