What is wrong with this pic?

Here is a pic of a recent problem in our engine. Can some one point it out?



The lifter on the right has failed only on the top half. This lifter was the intake #5 the lifter on the left was on the exhaust #5. This is inside a brand new IDT Block, Brand new lifters, New Manton pushrods, it is a Ford Hemi Blown Big block. I have my speculations on what has caused this but professional help much needed.
This problem occured after 35 seconds of idle to 6500 rpm's.

 

Did the pushrod jump the cup? More info would help....

Brandon Booher
NHRA TAD #34

 

No, the valve spring was not compressed as much as the rest during the post starting check. Then it was discovered that the lifter was stuck in the bore. The top of the lifter missing is a result of trying to remove it. It is stated in the original post brand new Pushrods from Manton. This is the only damage noticed in the whole engine other wise, I would have posed pics of other parts as well.

 

The oil restriction hole is fine as per IDT specs oil was not found on the number 5 exhaust rocker. Look at the picture closely and you will see why. The lifter placement is fine. Look closely in a slight difference in the rockers near the top.

 

Lifter

I didn't really follow all that, but check the pair of lifter holes center to center and make sure they match the others. If that pair of lifter bores are not spaced correctly, the bar could force the lifter to push against the side of the bore. Just a thought. Good Luck.

 

roller lifter

What is with the small Hole?? Are those the same OAL ? one looks longer.

 

I should have shown you a photo of the back side sorry. There is no hole in that lifter at all! That lifter is solid every other lifter we have has a hole clear through. Here is my problem this lifter ( missing hole lifter) was the #5 exhaust lifter. The damaged one was the #5 intake lifter. I know Mike you know your Fords inside and out, all the other things you speak of were addressed. The cam and rockers are not a problem at all. The engine was primed off of the oil pump before starting. Assembly lube and grease were used liberally. I can safely say assembly was done properly and no signs of improper assembly were found.

Here is my question if the IDT Block is flowing oil properly, which we know it is the oil flows from the crank mains to the lifter bores, hitting the lifters on the right side first,#1-4 then cross over to left side hits oil pressure gauge on rear of block then into left side lifter bores #8-5. That is my understanding of how this oil flows in this block, If that is wrong then I need to know how it goes.
But we know no matter how the oil flows the #5 exhaust bore being the first or last bore to receive oils is not ported on the top. I understand there are main holes to send oil through and the small hole is just to give a extra shot of oil to the rocker and head. I don't think so because on this engine oil only enters the head from the pushrods on the head. Oil flow around the top of the #5 intake lifter was obviously an issue, Now is it not such a dam coincide that only the top of the lifter next to the lifter missing ( a drilled hole ) its supposed to be oiling hole fails:?

 

broken lifters

I have been were you are going. Got a few questions. What size lifters are you using? What size roller do you have? What size cam do you have? What rocker ratio do you have? What oil system do you have? Do you have external drain backs on the heads?

 

The lifters are .800 can't remember exactly but they are not the .9 ones.
Rocker ratio 1.75 intake, 1.65 exhaust. The cam is a Carol Carter spec don't remember off hand all the specs, but it is his design and the best one for our application.
It is a dry sump oiling system with external drains on the rear of the heads.

 

You cant see in the picture behind the galling was a definite brown spot from heat build up. I will post up more pics in a bit of the bad lifter. The metal build up on the lifter wont come off. I cant tell if it is from the lifter and the bore in the block is not nearly as bad as the lifter. The IDT block is definately a hard mix of metal.

 

We put a new lifter back in the hole and no clearance problems the bore is scratched but we have not run it yet. This happened Sunday,

 

Two more pics

 

Last Pic.

 

The lifter that failed has a hole just next to the lifter without the hole, Have not been able to get to taking the rest out yet. Kind of pissed because it is unnecessary that this happened. Has put a big dent into our schedule. Forgot to mention that an very acute observer noticed the color change at the zoomes exhaust exit, on cylinder 5 indicating too much heat in that area not excessive just more then the rest. Also the cam and roller end were not damaged in any way. The roller did not spread on the lifter.

 

looking at your later piks it does appear to show rubbed & or oil starved.
dont the oil feeds for the lifters in the blocks run on the outer (cylinder) side?
the lifters i use have the oil hole 90 degrees to what yours show -crower, and cant be fitted the wrong way round as one side is blocked, carrol can supply these, i cant recall part no at mo.

with no oil showing at #5 ( its also the last pair to see oil ) while priming could it be the oil feed drilling is not quite in line with the lifter oil hole, if so you could aleviate this by grinding a very thin groove in the lifter to line up with the main feed, some manufactures do this to theirs calling them some name like high pressure design- or the like.

if no oil is showing at no. 5 while priming, and rotate motor while doing this, then there is an issue, stop - check - sort, you could fit an accumulator to assist to give more hands free for you, ( i always look to see oil running down ALL the rockers before i press - start now.

not sure what cyl heads you have but i threw away my external drains and drilled oil drains through my heads to utilise the drains that are drilled on the outer side of the block.

check push rod isnt binding anywhere at all aspects of lift, could cause to put slight pressure on lifter.

its too late on this one now, but double check the tie bar doesnt bind the lifters at any point while rotating motor by hand during checking & checking & checking & more checking.

mike discussed earlier, about grinding of the pushrod -lifter 'slot' on the block so the lifter slides absolutely uninhibited prior to installing the pushrods, check the tie bar is clear in this area also - inlet lifter, especially when lifter is on base of cam, as there is a very small ledge in this area, i like a little safer clearance here.