Preliminary engine diagnostics already found a problem *Updated*

[torredcuda]

My engine isn`t making the power it should so I planned on tearing the top end off and checking everything out over the winter.Well before teardown I did a compression test and found #2 cyl at 7 pounds!proceeded to do a leakdown test on that cyl and that was at 10% which is fine.My buddy then grabbed the rockers and found the intake side very loose but the adjustment wasn`t backed off, we think it`s a collasped lifter.I need to pull the intake to know exactly what the problem is but basically I`ve been running on 7 cylinders-no wonder I couldn`t get out of the low 14`s at the track.Anything that would cause a collapsed lifter or just a part failure?I`ll get the rest of the top end off this week and know more.

[Chryco Psycho]

you don`t even need to pull the intake , generally you can fish the lifter out with a strong telescoping magnet

[Topcat]

Or those telescoping deals that have 3 bent little arms that come out of the end. You push on the button and they come out. When you let go, they grab. Then when it is out of the lifter bore, use the magnet. Sometimes the lifter needs a little persuasion to come loose and a magnet may or may not get it out of the bore the first try.  Those would be ideal to grab with. If you have both the magnet and the grabber tool you can't lose.

[torredcuda]

My buddy has the tool to grab it but like I said the top end is coming off anyway for a good check.I run this engine hard to almost 7k regularly so a partial teardown every couple years is just basic maintenence.If all checks out OK I`ll scratch the stroker plans and maybe just switch to a bigger solid cam and better valvetrain.Any recommendations for adjustable rockers-possibly roller tip?I`m running the Crane ductile iron ones currently.

[Chryco Psycho]

if you are going to roller top rockers use the Comp Pro magnum stainless rockers , stay away from alum

[torredcuda]

  Ya,I`ve seen and heard a lot of the aluminum ones breaking.

[moper]

Ductile is fine unless you feel there is a problem with them.

[torredcuda]

The ductile iron ones are working fine,just thinking of upgrading but maybe not worth spending the money?
Anyway-pulled the intake yesterday and found not only a collapsed lifter but a hole in the bottom of it!  Of course the cam lobe is wiped but the rest of the lifters and lobes look OK.What are the possible causes for this as I need to diagnose the problem before reassembly?

[tactransman]

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=29135.0

[torredcuda]

Just a cam going bad is a good possibilty,just trying to rule out anything else that would`ve possibly caused it.

[tactransman]

A bad cam seems pretty common these days. Had one do it to me also. Replaced the cam and changed nothing else but the push rod that got bent, it never failed again.

[moper]

Can you post a pic of the lifter base? If the entire base is cup shapped, and the hole is centered, the lifter was rotating. So possibly somethign caused the oil film to break down. If the lifter has a hole in the center, but is basically flat, it wasnt rotating much if at all. That will kill it very fast. It's hard to say why a lobe is lost these days. All you can do is everything possible. I would definately look at the whoel engien. You got iron all thru it at this point.

[torredcuda]

The base is cup shaped and there is a hole in the middle.The engine is now out and i`ll tear it all down to check everything,new oil pump,bearings if needed,etc.It was a Mopar .508 cam which I`ve never heard of any problems with them,just one of those things I guess.

[Chryco Psycho]

I lost the same cam in the crate 360 my customer ordered

[FY1Cuda]

Hot Rod magazine has been pushing this oil additive (or maybe its just oil) that you can get at Wallmart apparently.  It's for diesel trucks but apparently it has all sorts of additives that have been removed from your basic run of the mill oil due to environmental issues.  Apparently the cam industry has been losing a lot more lobes lately (i guess lately might mean the past 10-20 year... im not sure) but the cam industry says their tolerances have never been tighter and their blaming it on the oil industry, in proper fashion, the oil industry is returning the favor and blaming it on the cam manufacturers.  Anyway, back to the oil:  The oil is called Shell Rotella T, and you can get it at truck stops, wallmart, etc.  (Im assuming thats anywhere you see a whole family sporting mullets).  Anyway, good luck.

Just found the hot rod article:  http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/flat_tappet_cam_tech/index.html