I have just recently gotten into this V6 (n/a, hyd, flat tappit) and reading a great deal of info.
Did these roller motors sound this way from the factory, or is this because of all the aftermarket add-ons
To me, any kind of noise throughout paired machined surfaces is absolutely the wrong tolerance..
That particular tolerance (large or small) is taken up by fluid by deeming the hydraulic properties of ones lubricant to be a barrier between said surfaces..
One can't compress a fluid but, can change the viscosity of that fluid through that given tolerance, therefore lessening resistance, dropping operating temps, or going the other way and raising them.. (as in intra-fluid friction)
BUT, the main concern is to NOT have metal to metal contact regardless of application. But to have a thin coating of lubricant to glide between for that given action.
In that ol book (Performance V6) Jim Ruggles suggested that the Buick V6's suffered from lack of oil pressure, and also suggested that the bearing surfaces be tightened up in addition to re-machining new holes in the cam bearing walls to give more pressure getting up to the valve train. (relying on the basic physics of hydraulic pressures.. a bottle-neck anywhere in the system will cause a rise in pressure, and a open will decrease it)
Now these "stage" motors have a "NEW AND IMPROVED" oiling system right? (granted, this information is decades old, but still applies..)
Could it be that on these motors, the oil pump needs to be addressed to deliver more fluid pressure to the journals first, then pool (so to say) in the lifter galleries?
The lifter acts as another pump to suck from said galleries up to feed the rockers, correct?
Maybe the tolerances in the lifter 'pumps' is too great, and adding a larger bore in the pushrod and up to the cup of the rocker is bleeding off too much pressure therefore lessening operating pressures in the body of the lifter..??
Going back to physics as above, it doesn't matter what volume of fluid you have in a specific container (bucket or syringe), it's the size of the out-port/orifice that lets that given amount or volume fluid to escape.
SO, if there is too much tolerance in the pump area inside of the lifter body, it would make sense that either the fluid be thicker (viscosity) to keep the pump parts under pressure (preload) OR tighter tolerances in the bleeding off of that volume that just cycled..? RIGHT?
I just guess that for the given cycles of operation, it would NOT be reliable to have synthetic 'O' rings but maybe but metal compression rings like in a piston to maintain correct pressure, but I don't think it would be cost effective. Plus, ANY debris would lead to catastrophic failure Very quickly.
Just think, Mercedes doesn't have any sealing in their mechanical fuel injection systems. And they ran for decades..
Pressure was based on tolerance of the little piston inside of that particular bore. Trash introduced in the fuel would eventually gouge the walls/piston to lessen the pressure in that given bore.
I'm not trying to divert 'atta-boys' from Mike and others for their giving to the community. Just trying to figure out what the heck was the problem in the first place.. Was it only AFTER mods were made, that these ticking problems started happening?
Maybe like they say.. "TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING.." as in fluid bleed off per "High performance part(s)"
Anywho, Good info.
E
