The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop dump her or work on our relationship? 235 woes

hi guys,

so i have this nice 56 year 235 in my 49 1/2 ton nice oil pressure (on the gauge) starts imediately runs nicely, no smoke - nice.

the other day i hear a slight clanking sound. couldnt hear it on idle much but it gets louder when you open the throttle. not really loud but its there.

i adjust the solid lifters - sounds still there.

its definitely coming from the front upper part of the engine.

i pulled off the valve cover - bone dry. not a drop of oil.

the rocker arm shaft oil feed pipe was blocked, but even after unblocking the pipe the flow was pitiful almost nothing, no visible drips, nothing coming out the rocker arm holes just weaping out of the shaft seals a bit and the pipe base. So i guess there is a blockage further upstream.

then i took a look at the solid lifers.

they were all badly pock marked, but the front no.1 valve was the worst it had radial scratches all around the center portion and its fit in the valve hole was loose - i could rock the valve with my finger.
conversely the valve faces were like new as was the cam lobes from what i could see down the lifter holes

i assume then this was the cause of the clanking, its certainly in the right area. when i short the spark plug to cylinder one the clanking is still there - if thats a sign of anything else???

im assuming the oil flow blockage limited the flow to the lifters and that no.1 saw the least lubrication hence the wear.


so....choices....

I could;

1) pull out the engine, send it off to get refurbished with lifter hole reaming and rebuild = USD3500 in labour,(i live in japan) I supply parts, so maybe USD5000 total.

or

2) pull the cam out, ream out the lifter holes and try to flush out all the debris (ie leave the engine assembled) and install ford oversized lifters. of course i realise its not wise to do any machining with it assembled, not sure keeping the crank in if i could ream out the lifter holes and flush her out and not end up with an engine full of metal debris - but if i open her up im going to have to send off the head to get machined, new bearings, may as well do new pistons etc etc and im back up to USD3500 in costs!


or

3) spend USD3500 on a new crate small block v8 and a further USD2000 on install parts, fitting kit, bellhousing and shipping to japan. how much work is it to install? any downsides?

4) get a custom made oversized lifter made and install that without reaming the hole......perhaps just honing it (again with the engine assembled, i know thats not wise but if its possible......)

5)....others?? suggestions?


i would love to have more power so a v8 swap is tempting. i know i have to move or replace the stearing box, i know i can buy bolt in fitting kits and bell-housings to mate up against the stock 4 speed 49 1/2 ton) it appears to be fairly straight forward... and i would end up with a strong engine with more power...

i guess im really looking for opinions....

i would love a quick easy low cost fix - but if i have to spend USD5000 to fix up the 235 should i just spend the same instead to install a small block??

id be interested to hear what people would do in my shoes and why


cheers
mike