rocker arm destruction (photo)

[cmvan]

Any Ideas of what happened here? This is off a new to me 86' syncro that sat for 5 years. I thought it had the typical lifter "pump up" issues when I bought it, after 150 miles of driving the lifter noise never went away, and this is what number 3 cylinder rocker arm looks like. So what caused this destruction?

[fredn]

dropped valve seat
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1982 Air Cooled Vanagon Carat Weekender Interior

[Tristar Eric]

stuck hyd lifter?

[dbcdad]

I am working on my 1986 syncro sun roof_Orly Blue that sat for 12 years. Only has 140000 miles on it. When I got it I started it up and it blew white smoke forever. That was three years ago. I found a few bent push rods.Now I have the heads off and withe further inspection I found at least one valve was stuck like it had been glued to the valve guide. This weekend I will take the valves out and thourly check. I have two nice heads from a donor that look like they are relitively new that I will put back on. I have a post going (pulled the heads) . My rocker assembly was still in good shape.

Have Fun, David C
1987 Wolfsburg Daily Driver
1987 Syncro Gl_Country Homes Top_Westfalia Interior_Custom Racks front and back
1986 Syncro Sunroof_Working On
1987 Syncro Westfalia_No Engine_Project
1987 Gl_Donor

[thummmper]

gene berg elephants feet eliminates mushrooming in a normal situation--can't tell what happened here-- I never ran hydro lifters for that long
good luck

[cmvan]

So It could be a stuck valve? or a lifter that never pumps up? Or a dropped valve seat? The push rod is not bent so I will take a wild guess and say that the valve it is not a stuck. I am assuming that a dropped valve seat requires pulling the head. So I plan on replacing the hydraulic lifter. Any other Ideas?

[Howesight]

Craig;

When your rocker adjuster is hammered like that, you have no choice but to remove the head so that the valve stem tip (at a minimum!) can be machined. You'll see what caused the problem then. It is possible that the adjuster just came loose and hammered itself to death, but it doesn't matter. You have to remove the head.

Let us all know what you find!!

Good luck!

[pindrums]

Just ran into the same problem; same #3 cylinder on a 1986 Syncro I just bought. Engine out and in surgery for new heads etc...@ 177.000 miles. This vehicle also sat for years prior to last owner who bought it before me.

[raoul mitgong]

You guys are making me nervous. I too just bought an 86 Syncro that has been sitting for years. Maybe a week from firing it up yet. You guys think the vans were sitting because of this issue or the issue is due to it sitting?
-d
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84 Westy with a 2.1 (Groover)
86 Tintop Syncro (Crow)
86 Tintop Syncro to Westy project (Tom Servo)
91 Westy (Only the top 12 inches of this van (a burn victim))

[[email protected]]

old gas will varnish, and leave a very sticky layer on valve stems, which creates massive valve train issues.

I experienced this a couple times personally, and then recognized the issue. Change out the fuel IMMEDIATELY if it's been sitting for more than 6 months. A good cleaner (ie: Gumout Regane) will remove the deposits, that may even be there from before you getting the car.
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