Had a terrifying event with sticking throttle linkage today- the stupid thing hung in the torsion spring for the trunk! I was driving hard, let off gas and slammed the clutch to shift when - rrrsssssss- 7K rpm before I got shut off! Well.....
no carnage.
no hideous noises.
Straghtened out the linkage problem. No apparent ill effects. Are the valves gonna pop apart next week?
I have not found one yet, but wonder if there is a rev limiting rotor available for a mallory dizzy?

Should I expect horrible things to happen soon?

I did the same thing in my sbc....

It bounced off some sort of rev limiter...


Sucks...

Nothing wrong with the engine as of this time.

If your engine is an interference engine, meaning the valves actually are timed specially to not hit the piston at specific times then there can be potentiall catastrofic problems. Heck I don't even know if a 914 engine os this type.... If all of your valves are sealing (no popping out the intake or exhaust) and there is no rod knock, then your cool. Un-nerving at worst. Maybe took 1K miles off of the rings A leak down test would tell alot if your really worried..
The automatic rev limiter is called valve float.

It's probably OK.. The stock engine has tons of clearance most everywhere. If anything you could have floated a valve into a piston, but it would probably be very apparent already... Drive it till it drops and then call me...LOL

Hey if you need any parts let me know I am getting out of the four cylinder business. Give me a call, I'll be at the shop for the next month. 5397623

While at our 2nd AX this last Sunday I thought I was hearing valves or "A" valve. It was my last run & Punkin was runnin great. Got into the slow down area when I
heard it tapin'
L O U D I shut it off & sat there a few minutes. Re-started & it was still there. (the fairies din't fix it) Listened to it with Jim C & Craig (Camp914) & it just happened to get louder with them hollerin "shut it off..... shut it off" .

So, here I sit...... Punkin-less

...........b

The weak link with the stock heads are the valve springs and especially the retainers.. They don't like float at all!

Running stock retainers is a 36.50 mistake and single H/D springs are also cheap insurance and a good way to give yourself much less chance for a floating valve.....

Valves don't play... Silent, instantaneous and grossly expensive death if you drop one..... we never stop developing valve train components- its all that ever kills these engines.

What is happening when a rod starts to knock?
This is one area I have yet to dive into...... don't know if I really want to

Prolly the only way to find out what's making the noise is to take it out & tear it down, eh? But since I know nothing I still wouldn't know it if I saw it

........b

Jake, not to be off subject...

but would you ever build a sbc engine for a customer? I know you like them...

Just curious...

a rod knock is a sign of a rod bearing failure. either spun in the rod journal. or extreme wear of the brearing material due to oil contamination or loss of oil pressure. this almost always damage the crankshaft.

Scott, I hope that you come away clean on this deal. Sounds like a good time to get rid of the tension rods.
CCLINCAMPSHOX

I have only built one watercooled engine in my life.. It was a 383 Chevy for my work truck...

I might build another one if I was starving to death, out of money and living in a box.... LOL

Seriously, I don't have any standard tools any longer and would not be the best man for the job..... We are all specialist, I don't think Chevy mechs should work on our engines so I will oblige and keep my hands away from that green antifreeze crap that I HATE!

But the SBC is the best V8 out there

I feel better....
Thanks for all the info.

And, of course, I will continue saving for that SOLID LIFTER motor from the voice (and hands) of experience.

QUOTE

But the SBC is the best V8 out there.

UH-OH you have spoken blasphemy.