Messages

31

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: December 03 2021, 11:17:25 PM »

https://www.vortexbuicks-etc.com/rocker_shaft_assembly.htm

I did read this before I did the replacement, and it's funny when I first removed the old retainers in place , slide off the rockers in order, clean shaft and then placed the rockers back in the same order, and none of them have no Land R stamped on them. As you can see in the photo there is no L/R stamped on rockers.
Keep in mind this is an unopen engine; I know since I got it 32 years ago, and the first year a father gave his son my GN for graduated HS. 2nd year father took it away for missing College classes, kid protested and father fine now it's sold to me.

32

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: December 03 2021, 09:08:14 PM »

Fire the whore up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's funny, but unfortunately I made a rookie mistake.
When I removed parts and bolts, I usually placed bolts on cardboard in the order it was removed, and well I know where the pats goes.
The rookie mistake is when removed the old Rocker Arm Retainers, I used brake cleaner on the rocker arm shaft, used shop towels, lightly oil the shaft and placed the rockers back onto the shaft. Not realizing the shaft goes on the heads one way, and when I tried to bolt down the rocker arm assembly one of the bolt was off center.
What really piss me off is now I have to order another 6 Rocker Arm Retainers to replaced the ones I removed to correct the shaft position.
The first sets I ordered from RockAuto, and when I when to reordered a box of 4, RockAuto has an out of stock item.
I did found out AutoZone has the ones I'm replacing with, and I'll pick them up this coming Thursday.
Melling MRM-1724 (color Black) Photo shows the rocker arms shaft assembly is missing 3 retainers.  I already reversed the rockers 180 degree from the shaft position.

33

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: December 03 2021, 08:30:17 PM »

I used some red valve train lubricant spray from Comp Cams.
Coated everything real good just in case.
Prolly not needed but it couldn't hurt.

That's easily what I did, by using Comp Cam's red valve train lubricant spray

34

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: December 03 2021, 03:30:44 PM »

👍

Hi Steve,
After the replacement of valve springs, already changed oil, do i have to prime the oil again, or assemble all and start engine.
Thanks

35

General Buick Tech / Re: Passenger side valve cover replacement

« on: December 02 2021, 08:21:06 AM »

That fitting can be a bear. Make sure you are holding the bottom pipe fitting while trying to break it loose. Good news is it looks like there are replacements - https://www.jegs.com/i/RESTOPARTS/759/GN10095/10002/-1?gclid=Cj0KCQiA15yNBhDTARIsAGnwe0Wzfy3sAt6oWDQkJo2h46sE0DJiESo7BjT9AhxD0vOBZLS3vLGT3PkaAjulEALw_wcB

I did notice JPEGs replacement part is without heater to Throttle but Highway Stars has them with and the cost of $64.95
https://www.highwaystars.net/heater-inlet-outlet-pipe-assembly-replaces-gm-25525280/

36

General Buick Tech / Re: Passenger side valve cover replacement

« on: December 01 2021, 09:38:21 PM »

I already got another replacement since trying to take the flare nut off, even with penetrating oil, soaking it and it kinked the rounded part of the pipe. I finally removed the pipe place the flare nut on a vise and really used a wrench to removed the flare nut from the male fitting.
This weekend I will receive the rest of the Melling rocker arm retainers, color black not white.

37

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 22 2021, 03:37:36 PM »

Do you have an air compressor that you can dial down to 15psi?

If so, test your PCV valve to see if it blocks flow into engine. You might be surprised.

Thanks for the info, but I have been using the NOS GM/ACDelco PVC valve for many years with no issues

38

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 22 2021, 03:27:36 PM »

good thing you did not have that smoke tester when the car was new.  You would have gone crazy

Now that is funny, Thanks Steve

39

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 22 2021, 12:53:39 PM »

that only would create a potential oil leak, not a vacuum leak.  Unless you have a lot of blowby, there is not normally any pressure in the valley area (and that pressure has nothing to do directly with a loss of vacuum.

And once again , I will remind you that minor vacuum leaks are really not material unless it forces the blm correction outside the range of the ecm.  Blms not being 128 is pretty much immaterial as long they are still with the ecm range.  Modern chips with different fueling can also have an effect on this correction not to mention the lack of true closed loop correction at idle.

Before removing the intake I did both smoke test (Vacuum, and Exhaust) just an overall any type of leaks If any.
I'm using an GM 3" MAF, and the Scanmaster reading is as follows:
02-675
AF-05
LB-35
BAT-13.4
INT-124
BL-120
NPH-0
CLT-176
ATS-121
R-725
TP.42
IAC-25
CC-237-32
NAL-0
Fuel press is set at 45 w/vac.hose off (as per Bob Bailey Chip)
Once I put everything back together again, do a drive run and see the scanmaster numbers

40

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 21 2021, 11:05:56 PM »

Did the new springs feel a lot "stiffer" than the old springs?

Definitely, and I'm glad you mention about getting new retainers.
I didn't even try to see if the original one fits or not, as I wanted everything to fit as a unit from comp cam's valve springs, comp cam retainers, and comp cam locks. When in doubt don't guess, just do it right.
A while back you did mention I might need to replace the intake manifold gasket, I did smoked the intake, but could not see the end of the intake at the firewall end. I'm glad I did removed the intake gasket since the rubber gasket on the edge of the block was very brittle and dried.

41

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 21 2021, 10:01:29 PM »

I think most use a cup on aluminium in general these days.  Don't have any Buick specific experience.

Thanks for the updated info
Using the rope method wasn't too bad to used, like everyone else claimed #6 was a challenge, but a few minutes longer then the other replacements.
Now I'm waiting for the white rocker arm buttons to come in for replacement

42

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 21 2021, 09:01:35 PM »

Quote from: Steve Wood on November 09 2021, 05:52:10 PMI would use new matching retainers and locks if I did it to make sure everything fit just right.

Steel Retainers:728-16  /   750-16
Tool Steel Retainers:1750-16WOW, I can't believe the price for both of these items
Is it possible to still use the existing retainers?

Which is cheaper. New locks and retainers, or dropping a valve.

I defiantly do greed with the new locks and retainers

Hi Steve,
 I meant to ask you since I already installed all of the valve springs today, and I want to know since these heads are cast iron I don't need a valve spring seat, but if I did change to an Aluminum heads then I would need a valve spring seat or the valve springs would eat the Aluminum seat.
Is this statement true?

43

General Buick Tech / Mecum Auto Auctions in Chicago 2021

« on: November 19 2021, 02:20:44 PM »

1987 Buick Grand National all original with 301 mileage sold for $65,000

44

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 19 2021, 09:15:04 AM »

We used anything that was antifreeze and oil resistant. Just look on the package at your fav auto parts store.

Do you put the RTV on both side of the intake gasket or just one side only?

45

General Buick Tech / Re: Valve Springs replacement

« on: November 19 2021, 09:07:05 AM »

We used silicone around the water ports.

Hi Scoobum, Thanks for the info, as mention before I wasn't sure if it need it or not.
You definitely don't want to take the intake manifold out again cause of a leak.
I guess one would use high temp black RTV gasket maker, and if not which one?