lanny haff Posted December 31, 2011 Report Posted December 31, 2011 Hi guys Happy New Year I have a couple of questions for some one about my 48 Dodge engine. It started rattling yesterday, sounds like a piston but i'm not sure. it still has 55psi oilpressure at 45 mph so I don't think it's a bearing. When I start off it doesn't make any noise, the noise starts just before it shifts. It's hooked to a GM 350 auto trans. If it is a piston is there any additive I could put in to try + make it last a little longer? How about retarding the spark a bit. This isn't agood time to rebuild my motor! If I have too who is a good place to order parts from? Thanks in advance Lanny Quote
Phil Martin Posted December 31, 2011 Report Posted December 31, 2011 Sorry if I get a double post hit wrong button. My 50 was doing same thing. I retarded timing a little as per advice I got on here and that took care of it. Quote
greg g Posted December 31, 2011 Report Posted December 31, 2011 Check Bamfordsgarage engine rebuild thread for what he found on his pistons. A quick compression check sounds in order for your engine before you drive it much farther. Quote
lanny haff Posted December 31, 2011 Author Report Posted December 31, 2011 Hey greg thanks for responding. I retarded the timing abit + it sounds better. I don't understand hy it was really running good + then it started making he noise. What do you guys think about synthetic oil in flatheads? Also does anyone know what the total advance on a langdons electronic distributor is? Thanks Lanny Quote
48mirage Posted January 1, 2012 Report Posted January 1, 2012 I don't know what you would gain by using a more expensive synthetic oil. The dino oils of today are light years ahead of what was out there when our cars were new. The trick with any oil is keeping it cleaned and changed often. Since I put on the PCV I've noticed that my oil stays clearer longer and I run wallyworld 20w-50 year round, just changing the oil and filter every 3,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first. In our old harleys the synthetics seem to find more places to leak from. But considering the old adage if your harley isn't leaking it's out of oil, the argument may be mute. Quote
Uncle-Pekka Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 What do you guys think about synthetic oil in flatheads? Thanks Lanny Hi Lanny, An old timer once told me that mineral oil is much better for the flatheads, because the lubrication valve guides and seats rely on oil vapour. Synthetic does not vaporizate, thus it may actually be worse for the valve mechanism lubrication. I use SAE40 single grade mineral oil and my engine is happy. Also it leaks less than it used when I ran 10W50 multigrade. Br., Pekka Quote
captden29 Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 uncle pekka, what ia the difference between mineral oil and regular motor oil? i might be showing my ignorance here, but usually when a question is asked somebody else has the same question too. i use 40w also. capt den Quote
Uncle-Pekka Posted January 2, 2012 Report Posted January 2, 2012 Captain, Mineral oil is "the real thing", refined from the fossil oil pumped from the earth. Synthetic is "man made" - the carbon molecules processed to perfection in laboratory process. Most regular motor oils are (or ar least they were in the 90's when I last read the can prints..) mineral based oils. Nowadays you also find "semi-synthetic" oils, sort of "blended", or mineral oils "improved" by adding the molecule strings synthetic way. This trivia does not matter much in practise... Still it is kind of funny to think that our flatheads run better by the old time less perfect oils. Fits to the picture of old time simple life...? /Unkka-Pekka Quote
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