hydraulic lifter mystery?

[sixpony]

Need a little advice from someone who is more experienced with lifter problems I have some lifter noise on cold startup which goes away at temp. Since I had the head off anyway I thought I would replace the lifters since the engine is high miles but still has good oil pressure and burns a very minimal amount. I understand the concept of how hydraulics keep the slack out of the valvetrain but I have no experience at troubleshooting them. After a lifter has run in an engine awhile and removed shouldn't the spring fully extend it as a new one does or does it stay compressed near where it was running in the engine? Common sense tells me that the spring should extend it, but I've been wrong before (many times). Also has anyone had good results replacing lifters on a used cam, I know they should be replaced together but it just ain't in the budget right now. Any help will be greatly appreciated. :| :help:

 

[broncr]

I won't pretend to have adequate lifter experience, but I think it would be safe to say "use a good cam break in lube" on the new lifters. There are enough problem spots along the valve train that I've sometimes just settled for a little more clicking than I'd like.

Just curious - why do you "have the head off, anyway"?

 

[sixpony]

Thanks Broncr, I always use "engine assembly lube" whenever I reassemble, not specifically for cams but I hope it will be adequate. To be truthful this problem is not with my stang but my dd jeep, it has the amc 4 banger so it is an inline, forgive me guys. I had to pull the head to drill out a broken exhaust manifold stud,figured new lifters might quiet it down until it's time for a rebuild.as I said its really only noisy on startup, but when I pulled the lifters they all stay compressed around 1/4 inch, this is something I hadn't really paid any attention to before, wondering if its normal or a sign of weak lifters, this is something I can't find a lot of info on, all my old mechanic uncles have long since passed (wish I had spent more time with them when I was young instead of pursuing wine,women and song!) . I have heard you should soak new lifters in oil overnight to prime them, some say immerse them in oil and pump them with a pushrod to prime them, would like to hear what some of the old timers have to say, this forum is one of the best sources of info that I've found. Thanks again!

 

[80broncoman]

like bronr said use assy lube and breakin the lifter like you would a new cam and lifters. Now I'm not 100% sure but if you engine has a sheetmetal tubing exh manifold (header) rather than a cast iron manifold look for craks around the welds and for leaks around the gaskets.
this can often be mistaken for lifter noise especally when its a cold noise that goes away with engine warmup.

 

[sixpony]

Yeah, I did have a leak at the manifold because of a broken stud but I believe some of the noise is lifters, its a high mileage motor and I hope I can't do too much damage by replacing them, oh and its a cast manifold and in pretty good shape. If the new exhaust gasket and lifters work I may have to invest in some deer whistles! :mrgreen: :thanks:

 

[bubba22349]

as I said its really only noisy on startup, but when I pulled the lifters they all stay compressed around 1/4 inch, this is something I hadn't really paid any attention to before, wondering if its normal or a sign of weak lifters

Your old lifters probably have be gummed up sludge due to the high miles. The oil pressure will fill the lifters to the right height or pre load.

 

[sixpony]

Broncoman you must be clairvoyant, or have some buddies with late model jeeps maybe? Anyhoo I took a closer look at my exhaust manifold and lo and behold, a hairline crack, since they're already holding up the pushrods I'll have new lifters and a new manifold, the auto supermarts sell the manifolds so it must be a pretty common failure. Can't complain about the little amc four tho it's almost as tough as our little sixes. Thanx for the heads up! And a thanx to all who replied.


Still like to hear from some of the old timers on the lifter subject.

 

[80broncoman]

Broncoman you must be clairvoyant, or have some buddies with late model jeeps maybe? Anyhoo I took a closer look at my exhaust manifold and lo and behold, a hairline crack, since they're already holding up the pushrods I'll have new lifters and a new manifold, the auto supermarts sell the manifolds so it must be a pretty common failure. Can't complain about the little amc four tho it's almost as tough as our little sixes. Thanx for the heads up! And a thanx to all who replied.


Still like to hear from some of the old timers on the lifter subject.

I have a late model Jeep and I even had to replace the exh manifold on it when it had about 90k on it. I am a memeber of 2 local off roading clubs too.
I've had jeeps for many years.
The 4 was designed off the old 258 six and then the 4.0L six was derived off of the 2.5 inline 4.

 

[Invectivus]

When I tore down my 200, some of the lifters were compressed and didn't want to uncompress fully, and some seemed like new and compressed/uncompressed fine.

The engine hadn't been run since '91, but had been rebuilt poorly right before that, and pitched into a corner in disgust. That's all I have.