Hey 2.3L exsperts, I need some help. I am getting some pretty bad lifter noise halfway through the engine breakin. Oil pressure was good and I kept it at 1500 RPM. About 10 minutes into it, the engine dies like it ran out of gas. I manualy turned the engine over and it's fine. I figure that I should check the timing so I had my daughter start the car and I was at 12 ATDC. I set the timng, spout out, to 10 BTDC. The care stated right up but I ran it at 1500 RPM. I started to hear lifter noise and it got worse with increasing RPM.
I pulled the valve cover and the cam looks great. I rotated the engine checking for lose sliders and found them all the same, just a tad bit of play.
I waited for about an hour then tried again. I heard some noise, sounded like lifters again, when the motor started but it went away. As the motor warmed up, 1000 RPM, the noise stated up again. It sure sounds like loose lifters but I haven't any 2.3L exsperaice.
The head was done by a local shop who has done four other motors form me. I am at a loss as what to do next. Any ideas would be helpful. My duaghters exsplorer is on it's last legs and this car is for her.
I pulled the valve cover and the cam looks great. I rotated the engine checking for lose sliders and found them all the same, just a tad bit of play.
I waited for about an hour then tried again. I heard some noise, sounded like lifters again, when the motor started but it went away. As the motor warmed up, 1000 RPM, the noise stated up again. It sure sounds like loose lifters but I haven't any 2.3L exsperaice.
The head was done by a local shop who has done four other motors form me. I am at a loss as what to do next. Any ideas would be helpful. My duaghters exsplorer is on it's last legs and this car is for her.