Do I need new lifters? - 4th F-Body

Gary-Z28 · January 24th, 2010, 10:43 PM

First a little background.

Engine was rebuilt about 13k miles ago. New lifters were installed at that time. Since the motor was rebuilt it has probably made around 80 passes down the 1/4 mile, shifting at 6K.

A couple months ago I noticed a distinct lifter tick at idle when I would start it up cold. After a few minutes it would go away and the idle would smooth out. I figured I probably needed to readjust the lifters.

Saturday morning I finally got around to doing it. I rotated the balancer straight up and pulled off the first valve cover and looked to see the position of the rockers in order to determine which TDC I was at. To my surprise all the rockers were even, looking like all the valves were completely closed. I started the motor and let it idle for a few seconds. After that I could easily tell which valves were open and closed. By the time I was finished with the first group I noticed the rockers were even across again.

I have adjusted valves on many Chevy's over the years and I don't remember ever seeing them bleed down completely like that. Is this a sign I need to replace my lifters?

RrCoX22 · January 25th, 2010, 01:16 AM

are you running stock or lengthened pushrods? was preload measured, etc. during rebuild? the hydraulic spring may already be on it's way... although it's common to have valvetrain noise early in the morning or if a car has been sitting for awhile obviously since the oil hasn't pumped up through the lifter.

although a hydraulic lifter normally never makes sound as it has "play" to accommodate preload

Gary-Z28 · January 25th, 2010, 07:52 AM

Pushrods and springs are the ones recomeded for the cam I'm using. I'm also running a set of Crane Gold roller rockers. Supposedly the same rockers Chevy used on the LT4's.

RrCoX22 · January 25th, 2010, 03:01 PM

sometimes the ignition system also makes a tick... a hydraulic lifter should not be making any noise. your rockers were all tight? awhile since changed oil?

meangreenz28 · March 26th, 2010, 08:28 AM

lucus oil additive!?!?!? i used that in my 1991 caprice that i drove everyday in the winter. That stuff would always make the lifter tics (yes its plural, it has over 300,000 oon it) go away. But i really didnt car about the health of that car... you may want to find the problem, lol