A question about oil and lifters.

Posted By: 360cuda

A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 03:24 AM

I have a factory 380 hp magnum engine that I bought from a friend. The motor had been sitting in a crate for a few years. No complaints about the way it runs, it has plenty of power. My question is it sounds like a solid lift when its idling, not really a lifter tick, but a light rattling sound. I bought a set of Edelbrock heads and roller rockers. I thought that I could adjust the rockers to quieten the noise. If I adjust them tight enough to stop the rattle it runs crappy. A mechanic at a local shop told me to run heavier oil in it, 20w50. I am currently running Valvoline 5w30 semi synthetic. I don't really want to run that heavy oil. Should I invest in a new set of lifters, if so which ones???

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 03:38 AM

Quote:

If I adjust them tight enough to stop the rattle it runs crappy.

How much preload do you have? before/after you adjusted them

Posted By: 360cuda

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 03:47 AM

I stopped at about 1/4 turn after it stopped ticking really loud, any tighter and it didn't want to idle. I adjusted them while the engine was running. I used an old 340 valve cover and cut the top out of it so I could adjust them while it was running, on a warm engine. The rockers also have poly locks on them. I tried setting them cold, same results.
Oh, originally cold set at .040...thanks for the reply.

Posted By: skicker

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 04:01 AM

If the heads were aluminum you need to set the valve lash a little tighter if you set them with the engine cold. My engine builder said that the .020 lash my cam called for should be set at .015 if I do it when its cold. The .020 is to be set when the engine is warm. Your lash will probably be different.

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Posted By: 360cuda

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 04:13 AM

I've tried several times to adjust them at different preloads. That's why I tried using the valve cover so I could do it while it's running on a warm engine. I've had this engine for about a year. Everything I've tried has the same results.

Posted By: Challenger 1

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 12:01 PM

I would remove the intake and adjust the pre load with it cold while looking at the plunger in the lifter. Lock them down and forget about them. If it still rattles than something else is up.

Doing it while it's running is just about impossible with a hydralic lifter cam, imo.
You might get away with that with a solid lifter cam but not hydralic.

There's no lash with a hydralic lifter cam, only pre load.

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 02:42 PM

Quote:

Should I invest in a new set of lifters,

Maybe but first I'd set your preload at .020-.030". & if good there you might press straight down vertical on each rocker arm with a wooden hammer handle when idling & this may somewhat quiet down a bad one & help you ID the bad lifters.

Posted By: 383man

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/02/13 03:40 PM

Does it sound like just one or maybe two lifters clacking or does it just sound a little noisey all over.
I ask because I remember in 1992 when I first saw the SFI magnum eng at the dealer I worked for I always felt the valvetrains were a little noisey. But they all sounded the same way just to me for new engines they seemed kinda noisey all thru the valvetrian. It was just normal for them as we had a few cust complain also. But if you can here just one lifter then I would check the one or two that are clacking. One other good thing we used at the dealer that worked good for a stuck noisey lifter was this stuff in a yellow bottle called "Valve medic" and it worked good for freeing up a stuck lifter. Ron

Posted By: 360cuda

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/03/13 02:30 AM

Quote:

I would remove the intake and adjust the pre load with it cold while looking at the plunger in the lifter. Lock them down and forget about them. If it still rattles than something else is up.

Doing it while it's running is just about impossible with a hydralic lifter cam, imo.
You might get away with that with a solid lifter cam but not hydralic.

There's no lash with a hydraulic lifter cam, only pre load.

I had the engine installed by a local restoration shop. They replaced a couple of the lifters already, they said that they were pumping too much oil. They initially set them just like you describe. They still make noise. I have tried several times to re-adjust, trying to get the noise out of it. I have taken advice from several people, trying different methods, pre-loads etc. Nothing works. I dunno, maybe I should try the heavy oil, I really don't want to though.

Posted By: 360cuda

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/03/13 02:39 AM

Quote:

Does it sound like just one or maybe two lifters clacking or does it just sound a little noisey all over.
I ask because I remember in 1992 when I first saw the SFI magnum eng at the dealer I worked for I always felt the valvetrains were a little noisey. But they all sounded the same way just to me for new engines they seemed kinda noisey all thru the valvetrian. It was just normal for them as we had a few cust complain also. But if you can here just one lifter then I would check the one or two that are clacking. One other good thing we used at the dealer that worked good for a stuck noisey lifter was this stuff in a yellow bottle called "Valve medic" and it worked good for freeing up a stuck lifter. Ron

It's not really a clacking sound,more of a rattling growl if that makes sense. and yes it is noisy all over, It sort of sounds like a solid lift running just slightly loose. It's not loud enough that you can hear it six feet away with the hood closed, but open the hood and it gets your attention really quick. Like I said earlier I can adjust the noise out of it , but it don't want to run there. I've never heard of Valve Medic, I will check it out.

Posted By: 360cuda

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/03/13 02:47 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Should I invest in a new set of lifters,

Maybe but first I'd set your preload at .020-.030". & if good there you might press straight down vertical on each rocker arm with a wooden hammer handle when idling & this may somewhat quiet down a bad one & help you ID the bad lifters.

I've actually tried that, and other pre-load gaps, including zero, but it seems like all of them are noisy. I was also wondering if the engine sitting, completely assembled, having never been started might have had something to do with it. Could valve spring pressure over a period of years, sitting immobile, have caused the springs in the lifters to get weak...just wondering?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/03/13 04:17 AM

Quote:

Could valve spring pressure over a period of years, sitting immobile, have caused the springs in the lifters to get weak...just wondering?

I'm not sure but I just dissassembled a circle track 360 that has sat for years & I mistakenly did not take the rocker arm assys off & surprisingly with the lifters bled down alot of pressure was relieved, some but not all. If I could ID which lifters were making the noise I'd take them apart & clean/reoil/reassemble & see what you get. People have put new lifters on an old cam & rebroke it in but I'd be leery of doing that

. I'd sure want to clean several lifters if that would solve the noise rather than replacing cam & lifters. Holler how it turns out

Posted By: 360cuda

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/03/13 04:26 AM

This is a roller cam. Is there any issues, or worries with installing new roller lifters on an old cam? I know the dangers of replacing lifters on a conventional, or non-roller. This is my first experience with a roller. It seems the roller cam should be more tolerant, or am I thinking wrong?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: A question about oil and lifters. - 04/03/13 04:34 AM

I've never run a roller (too poor)