Lifter Replacement

[Diogenes]

I suspect I may have a soft lifter, though I'm still trying to confirm my suspicions. Can a bad lifter be identified without pulling the manifold? I suppose a stethoscope may be one way to point me in the right direction, but hoping for something more certain and definitive. I've been slowly eliminating other possibilities, such as pre-load adjustment, exhaust leak, etc. It seems a lifter may be the source of my noise, but I'm still uncertain and prefer not to pull the intake unless necessary.

The engine still runs good, just a bit of an annoying valvetrain noise.

If a lifter is the problem, would a Mahle lifter be acceptable? It is a flat tappet, hydraulic Bullet cam, nothing extreme. The issue of cam and lifter quality these days is worrisome.

[frnkeore]

Use a .020 feeler gauge and put it between the rocker and valve, while the engine is running.

That should tell what lifter is causing the noise. You may be able to fix it by using a longer push rod, if not, replace the lifter.

Johnson hi lift lifters are the best. Most quality lifters are made by them.

[Diogenes]

I have the factory adjustable rockers.

Making adjustments or taking measurements while it is running isn't really in the cards, as I don't have an old valve cover to cut up and don't want the mess associated with doing it without a valve cover. I don't know how messy it could get, as the pushrods don't oil and it is restricted, but it's probably still messy.

I looked at Johnson's website and it looks like they only make roller lifters now. I suppose there may be some old stock flat tappet lifters sitting on a shelf somewhere

[shady]

you can remove the lifters without pulling the intake. lisle used to make a tool for that.

[Heo]

I have the factory adjustable rockers.

Making adjustments or taking measurements while it is running isn't really in the cards, as I don't have an old valve cover to cut up and don't want the mess associated with doing it without a valve cover. I don't know how messy it could get, as the pushrods don't oil and it is restricted, but it's probably still messy.

I looked at Johnson's website and it looks like they only make roller lifters now. I suppose there may be some old stock flat tappet lifters sitting on a shelf somewhere

You can have a factoryadjuster that backs out they do that when they get loose.  Its not that messy to adjust it running on low idle.
Especialy if you have if you have restricted the rocker oiling

[Diogenes]

Yeah, I recall the old Lisle tool, just didn't look like there was much access to some of the lifters.

I have adjusted the rockers and made some jam nuts for a couple that were clearly losing their interference fit, so I think I've addressed most, if not all those issues. I did find some exhaust manifold bolts a little loose, hoping that may be part of the issue, but its not a nice day here, so I won't be running it to find out just yet. These GT exhaust manifolds have some bolts that are a bit challenging to get to, especially the passenger side rear. This is a Galaxie, I'm sure I'd get a lot of practice cussing if I had it in a shock tower car. An FE in a Cougar or Fairlane has got to be tight.

[Heo]

Yeah, I recall the old Lisle tool, just didn't look like there was much access to some of the lifters.

I have adjusted the rockers and made some jam nuts for a couple that were clearly losing their interference fit, so I think I've addressed most, if not all those issues. I did find some exhaust manifold bolts a little loose, hoping that may be part of the issue, but its not a nice day here, so I won't be running it to find out just yet. These GT exhaust manifolds have some bolts that are a bit challenging to get to, especially the passenger side rear. This is a Galaxie, I'm sure I'd get a lot of practice cussing if I had it in a shock tower car. An FE in a Cougar or Fairlane has got to be tight.

If you use exhaust gaskets throw them away and use hightemp silicone. I had not had an exhaust leak since late 80s when i started doing that

[frnkeore]

Here is the 2013 catalog.

I believe that Howards only carry the Johnson HYLIFT lifters.

[Diogenes]

Here is the 2013 catalog.

I believe that Howards only carry the Johnson HYLIFT lifters.

Thank you for the catalog. I wonder when they stopped making the flat tappet lifter. Their website only lists roller rockers, hydraulic or mechanical, so is it safe to assume they no longer make them at all, or do they only make them for certain re-sellers?

It is far too difficult to verify the source of a company's products, since it seems no longer safe to assume that a company makes it's own products.

[Lowrider]

Another source of noise like that is the fuel pump if your still running one. The spring on the fuel pump arm breaks or just falls out and the arm just flops around making noise like a lifter. You can take a long screwdriver and listen to the fuel pump while it's running to confirm. 

[TJ]

You can usually remove any lifters with the intake in place if you have a factory intake....maybe not with an aftermarket intake.

A push rod rubbing the valley splash shield will sound like lifter noise.

[cleandan]

Diogenes, I have the Lisle lifter pulling tool.
If you need it I can ship it to you and when you are done just send it back to me....undamaged of course.
Basically you reach down the pushrod hole in the intake with the tool, grab the lifter, pull it out of the hole, shift it over to the bigger open area of the intake space between the ports and pull it out of the engine.

A strong magnet on a stick will also work, just pull slow and steady to release the oil film tension.
The small neodymium magnets are great for this type of grab and pull work.

[Diogenes]

Diogenes, I have the Lisle lifter pulling tool.
If you need it I can ship it to you and when you are done just send it back to me....undamaged of course.
Basically you reach down the pushrod hole in the intake with the tool, grab the lifter, pull it out of the hole, shift it over to the bigger open area of the intake space between the ports and pull it out of the engine.

A strong magnet on a stick will also work, just pull slow and steady to release the oil film tension.
The small neodymium magnets are great for this type of grab and pull work.

Thank you, I appreciate the offer. I may have one, I've just got to dig into an old tool box--I'll keep it in mind if I can't find it. I still need to try and identify which one is the problem. I do have an Edelbrock intake, and I recall a couple of the push rod slots seem pretty restricted, as if the lifter may not come out, or at the very least there is very little room for error.