I have a 1950 ford V-8 and I went to change out the intake manifold and when I did I found what I think is one half of the valve spring retainer just sitting at the base of the valves. I don't know if it came off or it fell off of one of the valves or was just extra piece left there. Is there a way to tell which valve or any valve that has lost half of the retainer, with just the intake manifold removed. I have enclosed picture of the half I found but they would not photograph very well. Any help would be appericated. Thanks Jerry
Lose valae spring retainer
- Thread starter albjerryg
- Start date
krackerjack1951
Well-known member
with each valve opened all the way..use a small mirror with a handle you may be able to find one that came off.. there are 2 under the cup at the lower end of the valve,,use a flash light to help bounce the light beam off the mirror see up in the hidden area..dont ignore the chore,,could be disaster if its not caught before you drop a valve..some ones carelessness can cause big tears! proceed slowly
Mike51Merc
Well-known member
The spring would still be retained with just one half. Get a cheap dental mirror at the pharmacy and look at the spring bottoms. You'll need to compress the spring to get it back in.
brien
Member
I like the dental mirror thing I have one myself..
Using a valve lifter, he might as well lift the entire suspicious valve and valve spring out. What else could this be.. Foreign matter just doesn't show up after one removes the manifold. It's not the worst task in the world. Perhaps it's a good reason to do a valve job on that side of the motor....
Yes I don't know if it is an extra one or one that came off. This is the first time I have been inside the engine since I bought the car. But I have a mirror and will have a look tomorrow. Let assume that I find the missing half valve, is it possible to put it back in with out removing the head. Thanks Jerry
Russ/40
Well-known member
You can also tell which one lost a keeper by probing with a small right angle pic. You should be able to feel a gap. You may be able to remount the keepers by pressurizing the cylinder from your compressor. Gut the porceline from an old plug and weld an air coupling to it. Screw the fitting into the cylinder and with both valves closed, pressurize to 100+ lbs. you should be able to compress the valve enough to get the keepers on.
Walt Dupont--Me.
Well-known member
There's no indiction, if you have 1/2 lock missing on one valve it's probably been that way for years. But if you know one valve is missing that piece it will worry you to death. SO, do what everyone says, with a mirror or what ever it takes and make sure all valve have both halfs of the keeper. I rest my case. lol Walt
Ok I looked and felt my way around and can't find one that is missing but it is hard to see and feel so I am not 100 percent sure. Is it possible to just hit the starter and watch the valves move up and down to tell if it is ok or is something wrong with one of them . That is crank it with the intake manifold off. Thanks for any suggestions Jerry
jake197000
Senior Member
i doubt youll see any thing by cranking. id look again if one has fallen out id just put it back in and run it unless you see damage to the valve keeper grooves.
Mike51Merc
Well-known member
Cranking won't show you anything, but it will raise the lifters to get you a better view. It may be hard to see, but it's gonna be even harder to see after you replace the manifold and drive down the highway.
It's apart. Take the time to see.
Mart
Well-known member
This reply is only 10% serious, but having read the above, if you really can't see where it came from, and all the valve assemblies all appear to be holding together, then just put it back together and drive it. If at any time in the future it suddenly starts running on 7 cylinders, you can take the manifold off and the errant valve assembly will be obvious. You can then put it back together and carry on.
But here is a more serious answer.
How clean was the part you found - is the valley full of sludge and generally quite black and the odd piece clean? if it matches the general state of the valley it may have been there all the time. If different or cleaner or matching the general state of the valve parts (if they are cleaner). Also the inner and outer parts of the keeper should be very clean as no sludge or carbon can build up on the parts that are in contact with the valve or the collet.
If the inner and outer surfaces match the general valley area it has been there a long time.
Mart.
But here is a more serious answer.
How clean was the part you found - is the valley full of sludge and generally quite black and the odd piece clean? if it matches the general state of the valley it may have been there all the time. If different or cleaner or matching the general state of the valve parts (if they are cleaner). Also the inner and outer parts of the keeper should be very clean as no sludge or carbon can build up on the parts that are in contact with the valve or the collet.
If the inner and outer surfaces match the general valley area it has been there a long time.
Mart.