I have been having some problems with my 216 in my '46 3/4 ton pickup.
First, after putting the rebuilt engine and head all back together, I was off to register the truck for the first time. What joy! Then, BAM, a horrible rattling noise from the engine. I discovered that the guys who rebuilt the head installed the valve keepers incorrectly and it caused #1's intake valve to get sucked into the cylinder and break the guide. I took the head off and had them redo it. The piston was O.K., thank goodness.
O.K., I put it back together for the second time and after running rough for about an hour, I discovered that I had no compression in #2. I did a leak down test and discovered that #2's intake valve was not sealing. So I took the head off again, the shop redid the head and replaced the bent intake valve in #2.
I put him back together for the third time, replacing all of the gaskets as usual and started him up. All was well until, after about an hour in total driving this past Saturday, BAM, another horrible sound (deja vu) at a stoplight while we were enjoying a short trip to the hardware store. I took the valve cover off and discovered a bent push rod in #1's intake. (This is the same valve assembly that had the brand new valve guide put in the first time I had the head off.)
So far I have been too brokenhearted to do too much. This morning I did a leak-down test and I discovered that #1 intake is holding no compression and air passes right through the carb. Worse, this valve is really stuck in the guide. No wonder it can't hold compression because it can't even move. I guess that is how the push rod got bent - it tried to move a frozen valve.
With a broken heart and in all innocence, I ask you guys: What could have caused this? What do I do now? How do I prevent further mishaps?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Michael
