Haven't been here in quite some time and wanted to look around first but can't seem to navigate on this site very well. Something is driving me nuts, so I thought I would come to the experts. I have a noise in my engine that sounds like a rocker loose and is getting louder. If I use my "sthethiscope", the only place that I can hear it is on the very back edge of the oil pan...near the rear main. I pulled the valve covers however, and found a rocker on number 8 was beyond loose. The stud also has a notch worn into it. After dressing it all up and greasing the rocker good..all was quiet. The next morning, after the grease was worn off...the noise is back. I'm thinking that I have an issue with the valve or guide. This motor is an origonal, date correct, 351w....it is also my daily ride.
I would like to put some used heads on it while I get the other ones repaired. So...can I go backwards..(I can't see that anyone has tried this before)...and throw some 302 heads on it? I have a set out in the shed...otherwise, I'll have to hope it holds together until I can find some 351's.

 

you can use 302 heads but youll have to drill out the holes because the 351 bolts are larger...

 

The 351W should have rail rockers, making this sort of problem impossible. Is the pushrod bent? Do you have flat-tipped rockers?

This may shed some light on your situation-

289 High Performance Valve Train Upgrade

 

Rmodel, thanks...I found out about the bolts at work today. I thought I read something about that a while back but, couldn't remember.

2+2...nice link. I do have the flat tip. Ball mount though, not rail. Pushrod is not bent, checked them all a few times. The rocker was loose but, the nut wasn't. That's what is getting me. Also the valve tip was pretty chewed up and even "beveled" on one edge. I'm thinking that the stud is backing out (which I am wanting to upgrade to the screw in), or I bent the valve.

One more note..I had to put a washer under the nut to take up the slack and got pretty much the same adjustment that I had before this started. I looked at the 302 in the shed again, and it is pretty much complete. It has a 2v intake so, I need to change that and get a water and fuel pump for it. I think I'll see if I can drop that in this weekend. That should give me some time to tear mine apart and see what happened. I was told at work that these use the same flywheel....correct?

 

There's your problem. The 351W never had the flat rockers, but someone has installed them on your engine.

A flat rocker on a rail valve would look like this, and have basically nothing holding it in place on the tip-



The rockers you need have little rails on each side, preventing the tip from shifting.



As long as you have the correct rail-type valves, all you need is a set of rail rockers and your problems are over.

 

Sorry about that. Let me back up. I guess I have the rails that you speak of. I was just looking at the tip but, after your explaination, I do have the ones where it "straddles" the valve tip. I know it's hard to diagnose an issue on here...and even worse when you get bad info. Now you got me thinking that the last guy to work on my heads gave me the wrong valves. Mine don't stick up that much. It almost looks like the rockers are riding right on the springs.
I'm going to go ahead and put the 302 in it for now. Probably next weekend. That'll give me time to figure mine out and get it done right. I'll see if I can take some pics and let you know what I find.