Thread: [57 Thunderbird] Running Rough

Tweet

Are your carbs 3 or 4 bolt base and what intake manifold do you have--I'm assuming either a Fenton or Edelbrock aluminum
In those years lots of confusion about firing orders as Ford numbered there cylinders different from GM and Mopar plus Ford change order when FE engines came out in 1958.


Also, these engines had very poor top end oiling system and of course no top oil no drainback to lube cam lifters-your engine with new oil and inadeque top end oil flow could of wiped a cam lobe/lifter or a few of them--if you can run it with valve covers removed look to see that the push rods are rotating/spinning-if not probably bad cam lobe/lifter. The lifters (tappets) can only be removed with the cam out of the block so if you do get involved with this carefully lay every thing out in order so if you find a damaged part you can look at other pieces for same location.


Also, if you ever have the timing cover off to replace chain, gears, cam------it doesn't go back on with the gear marks aligned-they get set so theres 12 pins /links in the chain between the marks-timing chains back in THOSE DAYS had 2 links that were shinier/marked for this.


These engines had umbrella valve stem seals and they dried up deteriated with time and came apart into coffee ground looking pieces which plugged up oil return holes and eventually the oil pump screen.