Lifter tick

Creomod · Oct 31, 2024

Ok guys now I have a new issue. I started my car and I heard a ticking sound. Checked the oil I was low at least 1 quart. I’m assuming that the tick started because of the low oil. I went and bought a bottle of Lucas and it did not work. I can hear it at idel. When push gas it goes away but when I let off the gas I can hear it. I’m not sure if I should do a oil change(oil changed 2 months ago) & add Lucas or open it up inspect rockers,valve tips,rockers and push down on push rods to see what’s wrong.Its annoying. I used stethoscope and narrowed it down to cylinder 2 or 3. Can relubbing the pushrods rockers valve tips with prematex assembly line or some Molly lube work? How can I tell if I wiped a lobe?Can I just go and pull valve cover off and inspect or do I really gotta remove the lower intake? Sorry to bother but I’m always having issues lol any input appreciated

AeroCoupe · Oct 31, 2024

What kind of oil pressure do you have? Pedestal or stud mount rockers? Are you positive its not an exhaust leak at the header?

Creomod · Oct 31, 2024

AeroCoupe said:
What kind of oil pressure do you have? Pedestal or stud mount rockers? Are you positive its not an exhaust leak at the header?

Pedestal mount. Oil pressure is 60 on the gauge. I pretty sure it’s always been at 60. As for the exhaust leak I will start car tomorrow and check with the rubber part of the stethoscope along the header edge.

AeroCoupe · Oct 31, 2024

Pedestal mounts can be shimmed so if there is no leak then I would take the valve cover off and run the valves. Could be as simple as needing to torque the rockers or its time for valve springs. Worst case is you have a lifter failing or has failed.

Mac131 · Oct 31, 2024

I have a similar issue. Mine only does it when it gets warm. You can pull your valve covers off without removing the lower intake to inspect and check lash. If you have a wiped lobe it will have a miss. You can also bump the engine over and watch all the rocker movement. If one is less than the others....there's your problem.

Creomod · Oct 31, 2024

Mac131 said:
I have a similar issue. Mine only does it when it gets warm. You can pull your valve covers off without removing the lower intake to inspect and check lash. If you have a wiped lobe it will have a miss. You can also bump the engine over and watch all the rocker movement. If one is less than the others....there's your problem.

You’re right on the engine bump. Didn’t think of that lol sorry to hear that on yours. Mine does it the second I start the car and when i Rev/accerate the car it goes away

Creomod · Oct 31, 2024

AeroCoupe said:
Pedestal mounts can be shimmed so if there is no leak then I would take the valve cover off and run the valves. Could be as simple as needing to torque the rockers or its time for valve springs. Worst case is you have a lifter failing or has failed.

That would suck on the springs. I guess rockers can get loose.

Mac131 · Oct 31, 2024

Creomod said:
You’re right on the engine bump. Didn’t think of that lol sorry to hear that on yours. Mine does it the second I start the car and when i Rev/accerate the car it goes away

Mine doesn't really concern me at all. I'm building a new motor this winter for it as well. Curious if I will find anything when I pull the old one out in the spring.

Creomod · Nov 1, 2024

AeroCoupe said:
What kind of oil pressure do you have? Pedestal or stud mount rockers? Are you positive its not an exhaust leak at the header?

Checked for exhaust leak not that

AeroCoupe · Nov 1, 2024

Time to pull the valve cover(s). If you find that the rocker needs adjustment I would run them all.

Creomod · Nov 5, 2024

Ok this is what I found! I was hearing a lifter tick in the center of the passenger side valve cover. Removed the cover. Checked springs they all look ok. I did not bump the engine to see them move though. Cylinder #2 exhaust I see a wear mark across the valve tip. It’s the sweep but I can see it worn there a bit. It’s smooth I can’t feel it but I can see it. It’s rocker dosent have any wear it looks nice and smooth.First 2 pics are these. Then I see cylinder #3 also exhaust I see a minimal wear but I think that was already there next 2 pics. Looks like the valve was floating but I did install trick flow spring kit a while back. I do see some wear on the rocker looks like a path but still smooth. Can this be caused by a bad lifter in the cylinder #2 wear mark? Can it be resurfaced without Removing the head? I did press down on the rockers no play. And I cheated pushrods rolled them they are straight.

Creomod · Nov 5, 2024

So for example on this cylinder #2 the wear pattern (valve train geometry good) can a bad lifter cause the pattern to wear deeper in the valve tip?If so what how does this happen? Car was running fine I might’ve over reved with a quart low on oil just an fyi. When I heard ticking I immediately checked oil level first added Lucas and it didn’t work. I can hear ticking. When I used the stethoscope this is where I heard the ticking from it has a metal tip at the end sound was coming from center on head

AeroCoupe · Nov 5, 2024

Third picture show some light rubbing on the rocker arm. Have you checked the bearings in the rockers? Just trying to rule out any mechanical interference with the rocker arms and the spring retainers or bearing failure in the fulcrum of the rocker or the roller tip.

Noobz347 · Nov 5, 2024

What Aero said but also.... A lot of times, if there's a flat spot on a roller it means that the push rod is not rotating like it's supposed to. Pull them and check them for bends and mushrooms.

Creomod · Nov 5, 2024

Noobz347 said:
What Aero said but also.... A lot of times, if there's a flat spot on a roller it means that the push rod is not rotating like it's supposed to. Pull them and check them for bends and mushrooms.

Damm I didn’t think about the mushrooms! I did roll the pushrods to make sure they aren’t bent. I lubed up everything and retightend rockers to spec. I also did look at the fulcrums I pulled the rockers and rocked them back n fourth on my hand I didn’t few anything. Also as for the “wear mark” they are like that on the four exhaust they look the same. I also moved the wheels of the rockers tried pulling them to see if they had play. Nothing. I also inspected the cups. Nothing. If something was up with a lifter could I have heard it/pinned it down with the stethoscope? I can clearly hear it in the dead center of the passanger valve cover but I have read that it’s hard to pinpoint a bad lifter when it’s ticking.

Creomod · Nov 5, 2024

AeroCoupe said:
Third picture show some light rubbing on the rocker arm. Have you checked the bearings in the rockers? Just trying to rule out any mechanical interference with the rocker arms and the spring retainers or bearing failure in the fulcrum of the rocker or the roller tip.

I actually did I removed the rockers and rocked them up and down in my hand didn’t feel anything wonky or hear resistance/noise. Anyway to pinpoint a bad lifter?

Noobz347 · Nov 5, 2024

Check the seat in the rocker for the pushrod too. Particularly, if they're hardened.

Creomod · Nov 5, 2024

Noobz347 said:
Check the seat in the rocker for the pushrod too. Particularly, if they're hardened.

I did cheak those and put a squeeze of moly lube in there. I started up again right now after 4 days and I can still barely hear the tick. I can really hear it with the stethoscope. Should I pull the lower off to inspect the lifters?

Creomod · Nov 5, 2024

How do you know when it’s a bad lifter tick? Aren’t they supposed to tick a bit anyways?

Mac131 · Nov 8, 2024

Creomod said:
I did cheak those and put a squeeze of moly lube in there. I started up again right now after 4 days and I can still barely hear the tick. I can really hear it with the stethoscope. Should I pull the lower off to inspect the lifters?

It won't hurt anything if you decide to pull the lifters. It's not as critical on a roller cam, but put the lifter in the hole it came out of and if you want, mark the orientation too. I'd also shine a light into the holes to inspect each cam lobe.

Lifter tick

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Lifter tick

lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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lube between the nut and the face. I know my lubes

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