'59 Plymouth Forum

The old girl was tired, too tired to go any further. During the last weeks the fuel went up to 12 – 15 gal. This elevated fuel consumption and occasional but increasing backfire made every mile a torture. Not that the old girl didn’t want to go anymore, she simply couldn’t. The way to a skilled workshop was unavoidable and so she went.

The mechanic’s eyes didn’t promise any good as she arrived in the only workshop across town, but this didn’t really matter. As long there is a will (and a good bill to pay) there is also a way.

The mechanic did what he had to do and after a while the 318 4bbl overhaul was done. The 59-Fury was running better again. Here is what he said he did:
“The cam was bad so I replaced it. I also installed new lifters. One exhaust valve was bent. The two heads were reworked and received new valves. Also a brand new timing chain was installed. In the trunk are all the old parts that I removed”.
And here is the challenge:

Picture 1:
The two valves on the left are exhaust valves and show a head diameter of 1.50. The valve on the right is an intake valve and has a head diameter of 1.78. What’s wrong with these valves, except that the exhaust valve in the middle is bent?

Picture 2:
In the trunk there was also a set of lifters that the mechanic claimed he removed. What’s wrong with it?

Picture 3:
The returned camshaft shows cam lift of 0.266 what means a valve lift of 0.399. The duration is not exactly known but is in the range between 220º and 240º.

Was the mechanic an honourable man or did he lie? If he did, find his lies! Where and why are his lies detectable? Have fun!

Stefan

PS:
Picture 1 - Valves – 2 lies
Picture 2 - Lifters – 1 lie
Picture 3 - Cam – 1 lie

The winner gets the cam, valves and lifters free (shipping only)

Without looking up and comparing specs, here's my thoughts- The lifters shown are the hydraulic type, the 318 used solid lifters, the exhaust valve on the left appears to have a longer stem than the other which is the correct valve, and both the valve on the left and the intake valve have a single groove for the keepers, if memory serves me correctly, all the valves should have multiple grooves for the keepers. As to the cam, I don't seem to remember these using oil galleys through the bearing journals, these are usually found on cars with hydraulic lifters. ---John

I'm waiting... Only one answer? How is that possible?

Well John, no further answers. You are the winner.

On picuture 1 the middle valve only appears to be shorter because it is bent. The truth is that the head diameter 1.78/1.50 intake/exhaust indicates that these valves are definitely not from a 59 Poly but of a later LA-318. Also the 4-groove/2-groove valve stem shows that the exhaust valves come from different engines.

Picture 2 shows hydraulic lifters – You are right 59-Polys have solid lifters. (I only imagine what the mechanic put into my engine).

Picture 3. The cam lift 0.266/ valve lift 0.399 shows also that it is a cam of a later LA-engine. Our 31-Poly engines have a valve lift > 0.400.

Does anyone know the valve lift of the 318-Poly(with /without SuperPack?

Thanks John for the answer. For me here in V8-nowheresland your information was quite helpful.

Stefan

Stefan - My MOTORS auto repair manual states the valve lift for a 318 engine for 1959 - Int is .390 and exh is .386. It doesn't mention Superpak. I never got into the inner parts of engines so have no idea what all this means but by questions on this site I learn new things all the time. ( Though I have adjusted the valves on my 318) On that note though I must say that I have replaced transmissions, clutches, starters, alternators, brakes, and many other exterior things, body work, etc. but inner engines remain a mystery. BTW I picked up this MOTORS book (covers many autos from 1953 to 1961) at a swap meet this past summer for $10. great find.

Thanks John,

The valve lift simply shows how much the valve is opened by the cam.
For that we need to know two dates:
1. The cam lift
2. The rocker ratio (usually 1.5 on stock engines)


The rocker arms multiply the cam lift by 1.5 times and the result is the valve lift.
Cam lift * 1.5 = valve lift
or 0.260” * 1.5 = 0.390”.

Meanwhile I could find out every single date about stock cams for the 318 and 363 engines. (Duration, Degrees of opening and closing point of In- and Exhaust valves, etc.) The only date I could not find in the books is the cam lift (or the valve lift – doesn’t matter which one you have).

John, I do not know it for sure, but I guess the valve lift of the 318 (w/wo SuperPack) was bigger than 0.400”. Gary Pavlovich claims that the stock cam has a valve lift of 0.405”.

Can anybody confirm one of these valve lifts? Either John's 0.390” or Gary’s 0.405” are possible dates. Please help me with this matter, I really need this information to get my tired 318 breathing again!

Thanks
Stefan