roller rocker ticking...

[90]

well 2 weeks ago i took the Stang to The shop to Get The Tick Looked at.. Something was Really wrong with the Car.. he said " it was my Roller rocker, and that i didn't have adjustable rockers.. so with out replacing them all he could do is reset them and they might Come loose again. " So with that i said Skip it.. he replace my Clutch, and cable. Rear Main Seal and Flywheel.. welded my Ex-hust leak.. and Gave me spare parts To take my old Parts back to the auto store for the clutch cable i installed and had to return.. Saved me 110 and some change. Well i walked out paying 790.00 for all that (minus) the 110 is about 680 for all repairs listed above... well now heres my Problem...

Last night i was on the e-way, not really getting on it just doing 5 over.. Well when i get off on my Exit i stopped at this party store to get a pop and i had the radio up loud because i was on the e-way with windows down.. well when i started the car back up i could hear the Ticking was Stuck in a load sound not fading at all.. i took it home and checked the oil and seemed to be a quart low. i figured? Just maybe that had something to do with it.?... So this Morning i ran to Get a quart of { Val Max life} and seen a bottle of motor honey and read the instructions and noticed it said quites ticking or something about Lifter ticks.. so i added it to my car along with the oil... Now at idle it sounds Great, When i Rev it, Not so nice at all.. Ticks Like a Baseball card on bike tire.. at this point i don't want to replace the rockers They are rather new Ford racing roller rockers.. But i looked at what the Set back is going to be.. and seen some Pretty nice adjustable Ford Racing rockers on jegs, Just over 200 and another set over 300.. and i figure i would change the Lifters and push rods also.. the guy i bought the car off of said he never replaced the push rods so if nothing else replace them as well.. don't Get me wrong i love my car more then anything in my life right now.. But after Just paying 790 i am really not looking forward to spending another 8, 9 hundred.. So this is why i am posting this.. Is there anything i can do or may have over looked.. the car still Runs Great.. i am not driving it anymore Because my neighbor (LT1 guy) said he had a buddy that broke a rocker and it fell down into the piston or something a Killed the motor completely.. is there anything i can do or anyone that can help me out??? Please and thank you in advance...

 

[RYC CUKR]

If it is a roller rocker issue I would pull the VCs and check to make sure they are all tightened down. Since they are the pedestal mount rockers there isn't much you can do with them other than make sure that they are tightened down properly. Generally there isn't alot that can go wrong adjustment wise with pedestal mount rockers, provided you have the correct length pushrods. The only other thing that I could think would be a lifter that doesn't want to pump up. Then it doesn't hold the pushrod with in tolerence and you can get a tick.

The reason I say if its a roller rocker or lifter problem is cause lots of guys swear they have a lifter tick and it ends up being a header gasket or other exhaust leak, myself included. My header leak was quiet at idle but ticked like crazy under load. I would get a piece of 3/8" fuel hose and use it like a mechanics stethescope. Put one end by your ear and run the other end around where the header flange meets the exhaust ports. No loud ticks should mean that you don't have a leak and if you hear a tick then its a pretty good bet that is the problem. And its a pretty cheap way to eliminate that as a possible problem.
I woud do that before you pulled the VCs. If that isn't the problem and you can't figure out exactly where the problem lies I would have someone look at it and let you know what the problem is. Throwing a set of adjustable RRS, pushrods and lifters at the problem and not fixing it would be more than just a little upsetting.

 

[90]

Thanks Man,... After Calling my Shop i got an estimate on Roller rockers, Push Rods Lifters and Header Gaskets.. Parts Will Cost Me 380 -ish, is i Get them at Jegs using there 15% Discount.. and labor is 420.00 So Roughly 800 for everything.

 

[90]

it Would also Help If Anyone Could List Recommended parts to use.. rocker, and lifter wise.. push rods and Gasket are basic.. I am Looking for Adjustable rockers.. i have Ford Racing in now..

Mods List as... 1990 Gt 5.0 302.. Bored 0.030 over, Gt40 heads, Holley System max, MSD 6 w/coil.. Anderson Bcam, flow master off road X-pipe. 70/or/75mm TB. MAF conversion, CAI/K&N filter... No a/c, electric Fan.. Thats all i can Pretty much think of under the hood..
Please Keep in Mind that i dont Make a Killing after taxes.. please do not list the most expensive parts, i will consider everyones opinions.. thanks again..

 

[408gt91]

i would try the rubber hose gasket check first like he said, its an elimination process. are you sure that when they installed the rockers they bled the lifters?i know that roller rockers make alot of noise to begin with.you also could have an auto machine shop pull your valve cover and check for proper pushrod length.you can always put the stock rockers back on for now.