SOLVED: Yet another 1.7 "clattering" investigation NOW WITH VIDEO, What to look for? Options

[jrmdir]

Hello:

I'm still trying to sort numerous suspect items related to idle, mixture and hesitation in this recently acquired car but the "valve?" noise is driving me crazy while I work on various adjustments.

I've adjusted the valves at least three times and believe there is no excess clearance but it seems to have gotten louder recently so I'm going back under to check things out - and this time plan to take the rocker arms off to check for new looseness or anything weird that would throw the feeler gauge measurement off.

I've read about possible valve seat detachment - is there a way to check for this short of removing the heads?

Anything else I should look for? What are the chances of rod knock instead of valvetrain?

Notes: Mileage unknown. Car sat for 3+ years and of course the seller claimed "ran well when parked" LOL! Compression is good when warmed up, not so good in #1 and #3 when cold. No blue smoke. Hard to tell but the loudest noise seems to be #2 but that's just a guess.

Thanks!

Ron

[BeatNavy]

With the rocker arms off you need to pull the pushrods out of the tubes. Then you can retrieve the lifters out of each bore with a magnet. Keep the pushrods and lifters in order, oriented properly, and clean. If they are hydraulic you probably should go back to solid, although maybe someone can confirm that it won't mess up valve geometry.

It helps to put each cylinder at TDC as you remove the rocker assembly. At TDC the valve springs will be relaxed and you won't have rocker arm parts flying across the garage.

P&C = pistons and cylinders. If you didn't build this engine I wouldn't expect you to know which ones you had.

I've never had a dropped valve seat or heard one AFAIK. You may want to read valve adjustment procedures again, or ask questions. It's not necessarily easy or obvious for first (or third) timers.

Good luck.