| |
Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,065 Posts1,055,870 Members48,428 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | I have a spare 1939 216 that came with my 38 when I purchased it two years ago. I removed the valve cover the other day to have a look at the rocker arm. To my surprise I can actually move the valve springs around that aren't under some compression. I wonder how the motor ever ran like that! | | | | | Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 5,337 | I believe 1937-39 had additional springs on top of the lifters which helped with the work.
See the USA in your vintage Chevrolet! My Blog | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,206 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,206 | In 1939, the valve spring pressures were set at 49 - 56 pounds with valve closed, 121-133 pounds with valve open. It wouldn't take much seat wear to loosen the valve spring, and since they are weak to begin with, I am not surprised you can move them around. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Thanks for those numbers. I was going to look them up but now I don't have to! So in it's last running days those valves would have been held closed by the compression It must have made quite a racket.. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,922 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,922 | .010" of wear would reduce the spring tension by about 2-3 lbs. | | |
|
|
| |
