Intake lifter gone?? Pushrod drops into crankcase?

I just finished putting in a new head gasket. As I was reassembling the top end. I realized that the valve pushrod on cylinder 2 was dropping into the crankcase. After some checking it appears that the valve lifter has worn through. This engine is tired, but it was running before this disassembly. It was so sludged up that I believe the rod was stuck to the rocker arm. Anyhow I am thinking about welding a bead around the pushrod where it is dropping through the lifter. I realize that this is a junkyard fix, but it will get me running on all 4 cylinders again. Anyone have a better suggestion that doesn't involve dropping the oil pan?

Thanks,
Tom

 

Yikes!
Sorry, no suggestions.

 

I second the first opinion, YIKES!!!
You and I think the same, it would seem. I have done stupid stuff like this, just to get things running. Might work. I am not familier with 4cyl internals, but the reality is that you really don't have much to lose.

-H

 

If the lifter has worn through what does the cam look like? Welding may fix it for a short time but that thing going up and down 2500 times a min. the heat of the weld will weaken the metal. Are you sure the lifter is there? Did it break? I'd spend the $ on the gaskets and see what all is damaged before more damage is done.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I am not sure how long the engine has been in this condition. I have had the Jeep a little over a year. I bought it for $400 and have spent close to $500 getting it to run and drive. It drove great last hunting season even if it was only running on 3 cyls. This engine is in an FC-150 which makes pulling the Cam a real hassle. I am going to weld a sleeve over the end of the pushrod to increase the diameter. I tried putting the pushrod in upside down, and it goes up and down when the engine cranks so the cam must still have some lobe. I am surprised that I didn't notice this problem during disassembly, but the sludge must have been holding the pushrod in place. I will report back with my results. Here are some pics of the Jeep.

My FC-150

 

it's been a while, but if I'm not mistaken, you have adjustments on both ends of the push rod; tappet and rocker arm; have you tried adjusting?
end of push rod broken off/missing?

 

Thanks for the compliment. The FCs are definitely an acquired taste. That is a great pic of the engine block. This pic shows my problem area. There isn't any adjustment on that end of the pushrod. Can you see the lifter with the access cover open? It might be easy to weld the hole in the lifter shut.



Thanks.

 

{shrug}

 

call me stupid
had many an F4 apart
I don't see (or understand) the problem
is the tappet missing which allows the push rod to drop straight thru?

 

intakes use push rods
and the tappets aren't hydraulic, they are solid :twisted:
what hole in what "lifter" ? :?
more explanation needed for me please

 

Here is some more explanation. I have never had a F134 apart so this is all new to me. The pushrod for the intake valve on the number 2 cylinder drops down into the crankcase. The top of the pushrod ends up sitting flush with the top of the head. The pushrod is about 3/8" diameter. I have put a 1/2" steel rod in the hole and it doesn't fall through. When I crank the engine the 1/2" rod will cycle up and down just like it is supposed to. I don't have any idea how the factory rod is falling through or where the material that was below it went. A picture of an intake lifter might help. I am assuming that the lifters are hollow and that the top wore all the way through. If they are solid, then that wouldn't be possible. Does this help?

Thanks,
Tom

 

The lower end of the intake pushrod is rounded like a bullet. The tappets/lifters aren't visible. All I can see is a shiny spot on the good tappets and what looks like a hole on the bad one. I am looking through the 1/2" holes in the head all the way down to the tappets(about 6"s).

Thanks,