Okay guys, I'm going to need yous' help to get this 235 running right!
I just put a '53 Powerglide 235 into my '53 3/4 ton, replacing a stock 216 (I just posted in another thread about my Clark Griswold experience with the wrong bellhousing).
Got the front clip and radiator in today and everything hooked up for a real test run. She started up pretty easy and sounded pretty good, although I noticed a lot of valve train noise. I decided to try to get the timing dialed in before I started messing with the valves. I have to time using a vacuum gauge, as I'm using the 216's flywheel and the timing mark on it is just nowhere close to correct for this 235. I hooked up the vac gauge to the port on the carb (below the throttle plate) where I have the vac advance line connected (it's an aftermarket, el cheapo carb--please don't judge!). I got a really weird result of unsteady vacuum; not just unsteady, but oscillating almost on/off, perhaps 2 or 3 times a second! I thought it might just be my junky vac gauge, but then I hooked the vac advance line back up and notice the distributor was doing the same oscillation through the vac advance!
So after running for several minutes, I finally pull the rocker cover. I notice just a slow drip of oil from a few points on the rocker shaft (which, from what I've read here, is just about right), but then I notice that the #1 exhaust valve is stuck--not moving at all! I'm thinking that explains the noise I was hearing (which did seem to be coming from the front of the engine).
So my questions:
1. What's up with the goofy oscillating vacuum?
2. How should I go about freeing up that valve, and what (if any) greater problems might that stuck valve indicate?
Thanks in advance!
Tyler
