I had an ARP 3/8" rocker stud break today. I was on a WOT run and it snapped off at the rocker nut. Luckily I have stud girdles and everything stayed in place somewhat. I was able to drive home on 7 cylinders.
I sure am tired of production flaws. Building my 400 has been a nightmare. So far here is what has failed:
My first set of stock heads I had rebuilt with new valves installed. One valve broke and fell into my brand new piston.
I got a new set of Sportsman II heads with heavier springs. The guy that assembled them used the stock retainers and keepers. The valves pulled through the retainers and almost dropped into the pistons.
I went to change the retainers and couldn't get them off using an air compressor. I had to use the rope trick to hold the valves closed so I could remove the springs. A piece of the rope broke off and was left behind in the cylinder. I ended up with a collapsed piston. The rope part was my fault, but I shouldn't have had to mess with the springs in the first place.
My new Edelbrock fuel pump leaked oil out of the weep holes because the internal o-ring gasket wasn't seated right from the factory.
This incident with the rocker stud today.
I could keep going on and on about all of the wrong parts sent out from Summit and Jegs that had to be returned.
Can't manufacturers make quality parts anymore? I am almost afraid to advise anyone to build a Hot Rod anymore. There are too many things out of your control that will go wrong as you build what you want to build.
Other than the rope trick, I did everything by the book. I built my engine the right way and didn't cut any corners. But because of poor quality junk which was supposed to be brand name ****, I have lost a lot of weekends that I could have been cruising instead of cursing.
I'd give all those companies two thumbs up although I think they deserve to fingers up instead!
I sure am tired of production flaws. Building my 400 has been a nightmare. So far here is what has failed:
My first set of stock heads I had rebuilt with new valves installed. One valve broke and fell into my brand new piston.
I got a new set of Sportsman II heads with heavier springs. The guy that assembled them used the stock retainers and keepers. The valves pulled through the retainers and almost dropped into the pistons.
I went to change the retainers and couldn't get them off using an air compressor. I had to use the rope trick to hold the valves closed so I could remove the springs. A piece of the rope broke off and was left behind in the cylinder. I ended up with a collapsed piston. The rope part was my fault, but I shouldn't have had to mess with the springs in the first place.
My new Edelbrock fuel pump leaked oil out of the weep holes because the internal o-ring gasket wasn't seated right from the factory.
This incident with the rocker stud today.
I could keep going on and on about all of the wrong parts sent out from Summit and Jegs that had to be returned.
Can't manufacturers make quality parts anymore? I am almost afraid to advise anyone to build a Hot Rod anymore. There are too many things out of your control that will go wrong as you build what you want to build.
Other than the rope trick, I did everything by the book. I built my engine the right way and didn't cut any corners. But because of poor quality junk which was supposed to be brand name ****, I have lost a lot of weekends that I could have been cruising instead of cursing.
I'd give all those companies two thumbs up although I think they deserve to fingers up instead!