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Valve covers remove what should I look for? possible lifter noise

wazzabie

wazzabie

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I suspect that I have some lifter noise on the stock 78 350 V8. The engine sat for a long time. I pulled the valve cover off. I'm not sure what I should be looking for. I have yet to run the engine with the valve covers off. I pushed down on the lifters above the valves and was not able to move the springs. I think that is expected so good there. When I run the engine with the valve cover off I'll check to see if the lifters are all moving. Anything else I should inspect while I have the valve covers off?
 
check all the springs, look for cracked or broken coils. If you remove the rockers, put a flat edge across the top of the valve stems ( where the rocker pushes) they should all be the same. Also look at the rocker studs, they should also be at the same height, if on is taller it may be coming loose in the head.
Push rods should be straight turn them and look for run out. try to giggle up and down, shouldn't move at all.
Do a valve adjustment. All the the rocker stud nuts should have resistance to turn, even with unloaded spring pressure. If they turn very easy they are worn out. Get new ones they are inexpensive.
make sure the oil drain back hole are open and clear of any debris.

I am sure I left something out.
 
Wes Harden said:
check all the springs, look for cracked or broken coils. If you remove the rockers, put a flat edge across the top of the valve stems ( where the rocker pushes) they should all be the same. Also look at the rocker studs, they should also be at the same height, if on is taller it may be coming loose in the head.
Push rods should be straight turn them and look for run out. try to giggle up and down, shouldn't move at all.
Do a valve adjustment. All the the rocker stud nuts should have resistance to turn, even with unloaded spring pressure. If they turn very easy they are worn out. Get new ones they are inexpensive.
make sure the oil drain back hole are open and clear of any debris.

I am sure I left something out.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the reply. Should all of the push rods no up and down play in them? With out turning the engine over I'm finding in the current state some push rods have no play and others I can move up and down. Maybe that is expected? Even one of the rocker arm has some play in it.
 
I'm sure that the valves have never been adjusted for the life of the vehicle since new. It has about 130k miles on the engine. I thought valves never required maintenance adjustments.
 
they normally don't as the hydraulic lifters have enough margin to account for minor wear in the valve train and valve stretch. The lifters and cam shouldn't wear past break in.
 
Wes Harden said:
they normally don't as the hydraulic lifters have enough margin to account for minor wear in the valve train and valve stretch. The lifters and cam shouldn't wear past break in.
Click to expand...
Should I perform the push rod up and down test when the engine is warm? Does that make a difference?
 
It Shouldn't. If the lifters have bleed done possibly.
Ow much effort does it take to move the push rods
 
Wes Harden said:
It Shouldn't. If the lifters have bleed done possibly.
Ow much effort does it take to move the push rods
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Cylinder number 2 - The exhaust I can't move the push rod at all. I can't even spin the exhaust push rod. The intake I can move the push rod up and down so that it makes a clacking noise.
 
If the valve is open youmay not be abe to even spin the push rod.
Number 2 intake is a concern. Does the rocker stud look the same height as the others
 
Wes Harden said:
If the valve is open youmay not be abe to even spin the push rod.
Number 2 intake is a concern. Does the rocker stud look the same height as the others
Click to expand...
Hi Wes, I appreciate the help. The rocker stud looks the same height as the others. Also has about the same number of exposed threads. So I decided to run the engine with the valve cover off. I have oil pressure. I only ran the engine for about 1-2 minutes. Are the push rods hollow so that oil is designed to go up the push rods and out to the rocker? I can see a small hole in the rocker where the push rod sits. Anyways I ran the engine for 1-2 min and did not see any oil spraying out. So I turned the engine off. I thought oil would be spraying all over the place with the valve cover off. How soon should I see oil to the rockers after then engine starts?
 
yes oil is supposed to run up the push rod and spill on to the rocker. It can squirt if rpm is raised or Hi pressure/volume pump. It may take a few minutes for all of the rockers to start showing oil, at idle. I wouldn't rev it with cover off it will for sure spray oil every where. A loose push rod may not get oil to the top. The lifter side of the push rod maybe leaking all the oil out before it can reach the top.

I am fearful that your cam has started/gone flat on that lobe. turn the engine over by hand till that valve opens as far as it will go and try to compare to another intake at full open.
 
What engine oil are you using? A very thin or synthetic oil will introduce some valve train noise
 
Wes Harden said:
yes oil is supposed to run up the push rod and spill on to the rocker. It can squirt if rpm is raised or Hi pressure/volume pump. It may take a few minutes for all of the rockers to start showing oil, at idle. I wouldn't rev it with cover off it will for sure spray oil every where. A loose push rod may not get oil to the top. The lifter side of the push rod maybe leaking all the oil out before it can reach the top.

I am fearful that your cam has started/gone flat on that lobe. turn the engine over by hand till that valve opens as far as it will go and try to compare to another intake at full open.
Click to expand...
Update: I moved the belt to my alternator and heard a squeaking noise. I loosed the belt and my alternator bearing is making noise. At high idle I heard a slight chatter. Then when I took the engine off high idle I hear the tapping noise. I'm going to replace my alternator and see if that takes away the tapping sound. I ran the engine so that it was warm and I see oil at idle squirt out. I then checked the push rods and found some play in others. There also is some side to side play... not just up and down. All of the rockers move a like when the engine is running.
 
I personally wouldn't get too concerned about sideways play in the rockers, if it is just a small amount when the valve is not open. (meaning that it is on the seat) I am guessing that you are rocking it slightly on the pivot ball?

If you have already had it running, it will only take a little bit more time to adjust the rockers with the engine running. I pull just one valve cover at a time. Adjust that side, then reinstall the cover and go to the other side. This way there's no guessing if the adjustment is off.
 
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