Lifter problem?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 18, 05 7:32 pm

checking for clatter on drivers side bank (see'not good' thread) 3 of the pushrods are not spinning when the motor is running. Does this imply that the lifters are sticking and if so is it likely to have wiped the cam?

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Thu Aug 18, 05 7:58 pm

Like I said in the other thread take them out and have a look. If the lifter isn't turning you'll see it starting to wear a groove in the bottom, if it is spinning the wear pattern will be round, just cause the pushrod isn't spinning doesn't necessarily mean the lifter isn't

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 18, 05 8:25 pm

Thanks Jon, i'll check it in the morning. Really have no idea what could cause mettalic noise on one bank and not the other. Oiling is fine, I checked that too.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Aug 18, 05 8:55 pm

Have you got the Rocker shaft in the right way up ? That would limit oiling to the Valve gear.

sounds like it has got to come apart again....Hope it turns out OK and not too expensive.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 18, 05 11:08 pm

Pete, i checked it all (twice) it sounds as if there is too much play between rocker, push rod and lifter.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Aug 18, 05 11:22 pm

Staerting to sound like a pushrod length problem unless you have adjustable Rocker gear.................

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 5:37 am

No Pete, I Bananarama! was adjustable! The rockers appear to have too much play on the shafts in my view. Thta s true of both rockers but only one side is causing the problem.
The cam plus all rocker gear came out of my 318 which was working fine (at top end)

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 5:40 am

I ran it briefly with the rocker cover off and tried to identify one rocker/pushrod as the culprit using a screwdriver and hose as a stethascope. Couldnt identify any onerocker as the cause of the problem.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Aug 19, 05 8:40 am

In 95% of these cases it is just the exhaust manifold gasket blowing. Everyone that gets a blowing header gasket thinks they have something wrong with their lifters.

If you sell this car at a loss just because the bloody exhaust gasket is blowing you will be kicking yourself for the rest of your life.

Get a grip man.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 8:48 am

Dave, i agree on both counts. I had a blown exhaust gasket on my 3 litre capri and it sounded like doomsday. But i had the experience of MustangMike to look at it and he wouldnt volunteer a diagnosis without a full examination (it was pouring with rain at the time) but didnt like whta he heard with the rocker cover off.
I have had a screwdriver against the manifols at 2000rpm. tThe passenger side was ptety smooth and quiet, the drivers side was rough.

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Fri Aug 19, 05 8:53 am

Right. Well the lifters are hydraulic so as long as the pushrods are long enough they will take up any slack.

Unless the cam lobes are wiped. But if they were wiped that bad it would be very very obvious by looking at them. The pointy bit of the cam lobe will be trashed.

So take the inlet manifold off and have a look. I bet it is fine. Get that exhaust sealed up correctly.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 9:37 am

Miles i've just seen the for sale ad you posted so here's my twopennoth's worth

As far as I see it either some lifters aren't getting oil/not pumping up or some of the lobes on the cam are wiped (very unlikely) or some pushrods are the wrong length.

If possible do a visual on the tops of the lifters when each cylinder is at TDC to check that they are at the same height and the centres are also the same height, also check what play you have on each pushrod.

On the oiling side, The right side gets oil direct from the filter which feeds the cam bearings and the mains except number 5 which is fed from a passageway close to the filter. This also feeds the right lifters

The left side is fed off of number 1 main bearing and if the left side lifters are noisey then this could be a clue.

Have you got oil on the left side?(lifters) I don't mean valve gear as thats fed from number 2 and 4 cam bearings which are fed from the right gallery.

The only reason the left lifters can ever have no oil is number 1 main bearing, this could have spun or if it's anything like the mains on Russ's charger (440) then the shells can be put in wrong, this may also tie in with your oil leak.

Just to clarify the left is drivers side, right is pass side

If you can't sort it Miles i'll do it if it's possible to get it here

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 1:08 pm

Will, thanks for the info and the offer. I will check as you suggest. When i primed it there was oil to the lifters on the left bank (maybe not all). Unfortunately my focus was on the leaking oil filter at that time so i didnt check oil was in all the lifters. I'll check again and post back.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 1:11 pm

Number 1 bearing should be fitted ok in that it has the oil holes on both sides (I think) and hasa full groove oil distribution. If its spun ofcourse, thats adifferent matter.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 4:07 pm

New report on waht I found in my new thread!