C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Hydraulic Lock Up?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 07:01 PM
  #1  
falconview's Avatar
falconview
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Caledon Ont
Default Hydraulic Lock Up?

any one hear of hydraulic Lock up. My buddy blew the head gaskets on his 81, and had his brother and him replace the gaskets and sent out the heads...the car runs well for about 3 min starts to sputter, back fire big bang through carb then stall. If you let it sit for about 30s and starts right back up and does the same. runs great for the first few minutes.

Timing is fine I figure he tightened the valves down to tight and when the iol pressure builds up in the lifters some valves aern't closing...Any ideas?
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 07:36 PM
  #2  
HamadUP's Avatar
HamadUP
Melting Slicks
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

I know a friend who had exactly the same symptoms in his 454, turned to be the rockers were over tightened. Reset your rockers again and see what will happen.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 07:42 PM
  #3  
falconview's Avatar
falconview
Thread Starter
Instructor
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Caledon Ont
Default

My thoughts exactly, I'm going to run over towmorrow and give them a hand..thanks for the info.
Reply
Old Aug 22, 2009 | 09:22 PM
  #4  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

I would view hydraulic lock up as when a cylinder fills with a fluid and it cant be compressed.
If the rockers were tight and holding valves open that cylinder would be low on compression but should kill it that bad..
Carb flooding , ign prob , plugged exhaust ?
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2009 | 10:22 PM
  #5  
7t3shark's Avatar
7t3shark
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Atlas is shrugging KC, MO area
Default

Anyone that's ever adjusted hydraulic lifters w/ engine running will remember that if you tighten too fast, the engine will stumble 'til the lifter bleeds back down. So sounds like it could be some lifters that are too tite.
Reply
Old Aug 23, 2009 | 11:12 PM
  #6  
...Roger...'s Avatar
...Roger...
Race Director
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Default

They would almost have to be so tight that the pushrod is bottomed out in the lifter. Thats a full turn too tight. The lifter travel is around .140. Gm says the prime spot is .070 down (middle) and thats 1 turn down. If they were adjusted down at .120 the engine wouldnt know the difference. That would leave .020 for heat expansion before a valve would be held open.
Reply
Old Aug 24, 2009 | 04:37 AM
  #7  
7t5's Avatar
7t5
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 7,412
Likes: 75
St. Jude Donor '14
Default

Originally Posted by DWncchs
I would view hydraulic lock up as when a cylinder fills with a fluid and it cant be compressed.
That can do some serious damage, like bending connecting rods. I imagine you are not getting that if the motor actually starts.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Hydraulic Lock Up?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:08 PM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE