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Lifter preload on a 340? #1148111 01/01/12 03:41 PM 01/01/12 03:41 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa. EvilScamp OP enthusiast
EvilScamp OP enthusiast Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa.	I have valvetrain noise in my 340 and starting with the simplest first to try and locate the noise, i want to make sure that the push rods are the correct length but don't know what the preload of the lifters should be, any help would be appreciated.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148112 01/01/12 03:48 PM 01/01/12 03:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 10,555 Rittman Ohio fourgearsavoy I Live Here
fourgearsavoy I Live Here Joined: Dec 2004 Posts: 10,555 Rittman Ohio	Quote: I have valvetrain noise in my 340 and starting with the simplest first to try and locate the noise, i want to make sure that the push rods are the correct length but don't know what the preload of the lifters should be, any help would be appreciated. Are you using adjustable rockers? Gus 6996024-mysavoy.jpg (168 downloads) 64 Plymouth Savoy 493 Indy EZ's by Nick at Compu-Flow 5-Speed Richmond faceplate Liberty box Dana 60

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: fourgearsavoy] #1148113 01/01/12 03:56 PM 01/01/12 03:56 PM
Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,302 Nebraska 72Swinger master
72Swinger master Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,302 Nebraska	I think I remember a Pure Stock guy using .020 preload. But maybe it was .010??? Bob Karashain or somethin..... Mopar to the bone!!!

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: fourgearsavoy] #1148114 01/01/12 05:13 PM 01/01/12 05:13 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa. EvilScamp OP enthusiast
EvilScamp OP enthusiast Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa.	Quote: Are you using adjustable rockers? Gus No just stock rockers.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148115 01/01/12 05:39 PM 01/01/12 05:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,411 Omaha Ne T TJP I Live Here
TJP I Live Here T Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 15,411 Omaha Ne	most camshaft / lifter manufacturers recommend .020 to .040 preload. there are several different ways to accomplish this with adjustable rockers being the easiest IMO. www.tandmautomotive-omaha.com

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: TJP] #1148116 01/01/12 06:35 PM 01/01/12 06:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,732 North Dakota 6PakBee I Live Here
6PakBee I Live Here Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 10,732 North Dakota	Quote: most camshaft / lifter manufacturers recommend .020 to .040 preload. there are several different ways to accomplish this with adjustable rockers being the easiest IMO. I always tell people 0.030 if they ask because it's something you can easily check with a spark plug wire gauge. Intake has to be off of course. "We live in a time when intelligent people are being silenced so that stupid people won't be offended".

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148117 01/01/12 09:18 PM 01/01/12 09:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	Always noisy or recently? If always as said check preload. If recently while idling press straight down vertical on each rocker arm on the lifter end with the wooden handle of a hammer & the offender will get noticeably quieter. Remove it & dissassemble/clean it & reinstall but dont pump it full of oil ahead of time, preoil the whole system. Still bad get a new lifter and go thru the cam breakin procedure. On mockup make sure the new lifter is free in its' bore by cleaning the bore/lifter w brake kleen then lightly oiling both w WD40 then raise the lifter off of its' lobe with your finger then release it & it must fall back onto the lobe with a resounding "thunk" and if not the bore/lifter is too tight & must be honed (or try another lifter). live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: RapidRobert] #1148118 01/01/12 09:36 PM 01/01/12 09:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,048 Atlanta Indiana D Dave Watt master
Dave Watt master D Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 5,048 Atlanta Indiana	Quote: Always noisy or recently? I'm curious too. It could be the rocker shafts are incorrectly installed which doesn't allow oil to the rocker arms. How is your oil pressure?

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: RapidRobert] #1148119 01/01/12 11:46 PM 01/01/12 11:46 PM
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 5,123 Warrenton, VA RoadRunnerJD master
RoadRunnerJD master Joined: May 2004 Posts: 5,123 Warrenton, VA	Quote: Always noisy or recently? If always as said check preload. If recently while idling press straight down vertical on each rocker arm on the lifter end with the wooden handle of a hammer & the offender will get noticeably quieter. Remove it & dissassemble/clean it & reinstall but dont pump it full of oil ahead of time, preoil the whole system. Still bad get a new lifter and go thru the cam breakin procedure. On mockup make sure the new lifter is free in its' bore by cleaning the bore/lifter w brake kleen then lightly oiling both w WD40 then raise the lifter off of its' lobe with your finger then release it & it must fall back onto the lobe with a resounding "thunk" and if not the bore/lifter is too tight & must be honed (or try another lifter). Very good response! Comp Cams says the lifters should be set at .030-.040 for optimal performance or 1/2-3/4 turn past 0 with adjustable rockers. You can loosen the preload by shimming the shafts with the stamped rocker arms but if you have to increase the preload for one lifter, you have a different problem than the length of the pushrods.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: RoadRunnerJD] #1148120 01/01/12 11:58 PM 01/01/12 11:58 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa. EvilScamp OP enthusiast
EvilScamp OP enthusiast Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa.	Always noisy sounds almost like a bearing but it's definately in the valvetrain. Can't pinpoint exact location of noise, when it's running and standing on the left side it sounds like the noise comes from the right when standing on the right sounds like it's on the left side. Tryed the old broomstick to ear against the valve covers but still can't pinpoint it. The rocker shafts are definately installed correct i even pulled them off to double check. Oil pressure is about 60 pounds. Last edited by EvilScamp; 01/02/12 12:02 AM.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148121 01/02/12 12:06 AM 01/02/12 12:06 AM
Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI MR_P_BODY Master
MR_P_BODY Master Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 52,972 Romeo MI	Quote: Always noisy sounds almost like a bearing but it's definately in the valvetrain. Can't pinpoint exact location of noise, when it's running and standing on the left side it sounds like the noise comes from the right when standing on the right sounds like it's on the left side. Tryed the old broomstick to ear against the valve covers but still can't pinpoint it. The rocker shafts are definately installed correct i even pulled them off to double check. Oil pressure is about 60 pounds. Did you change cams... if so you most likely need new push rods... they cut the base down farther to give more lift

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: MR_P_BODY] #1148122 01/02/12 09:20 AM 01/02/12 09:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,468 Answering the call of the wild T ThermoQuad top fuel
ThermoQuad top fuel T Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,468 Answering the call of the wild	The type of oil used makes a difference in valvetrain noise. This was made very evident by changing the oil in 2 high perf engines that were "noisy" but ran well. Use an oil flat tappet cam specific. Here is a manufacturers guide to preload. This may be the best advice you will find. 6997528-lifterpreload.jpg (214 downloads)

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148123 01/02/12 03:06 PM 01/02/12 03:06 PM
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 5,123 Warrenton, VA RoadRunnerJD master
RoadRunnerJD master Joined: May 2004 Posts: 5,123 Warrenton, VA	Quote: Always noisy sounds almost like a bearing but it's definately in the valvetrain. Can't pinpoint exact location of noise, when it's running and standing on the left side it sounds like the noise comes from the right when standing on the right sounds like it's on the left side. Tryed the old broomstick to ear against the valve covers but still can't pinpoint it. The rocker shafts are definately installed correct i even pulled them off to double check. Oil pressure is about 60 pounds. Pull the valve covers check the preload at the base circle on each cam lobe by turning the pushrods and seeing if there is any decent tension on the pushrods? You could also buy a set of adjustable rocker arms and set your preload with them. There are usually some used 273 adjustables for sale in the Moparts A engines. Get the correct shafts with them if you do.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: RoadRunnerJD] #1148124 01/02/12 04:20 PM 01/02/12 04:20 PM
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida S scratchnfotraction I Live Here
scratchnfotraction I Live Here S Joined: May 2003 Posts: 15,487 Florida	how many miles on those rockers/PR/shafts?? how many miles on lifters and cam? are the lifters in correct order on the shaft for offset? I have had many make noise that you could not track down when no exhast leak was confirmed first. eggshaped rockers with a worn thin fulcum or grooves on the shafts,rocker cups and PR ends worn down,lifter cups worn,lifters pluged up solid with carbon deposits...or combo of all of the above have been the culprit. not to mention the oil and a flat tappet cam wear issues the last few yrs. the hydro lifter is self adjusting as long as it/valve train is within specs,wear down any of the valve train and it can get to haveing the lifter rattle/ticking/tapping at any or all of the contact wear spots. once the lifter pumps up to max hieght,it cant adjust for mech failure. dont forget,you have a t-chain/fuel pump along with a dist/itermed shaft running off the cam and will add to the mech sound of a engine as it idles. add in the wear of those items and you multiply the mech sound chasing Last edited by scratchnfotraction; 01/02/12 04:21 PM.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: scratchnfotraction] #1148125 01/03/12 09:43 PM 01/03/12 09:43 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa. EvilScamp OP enthusiast
EvilScamp OP enthusiast Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa.	Not sure what the lift and duration of the cam is it was in the car when i got it, i do know it's a bit bigger than stock you can hear the lope in it when it's running. I would love to get a set of adjustable rockers but money is at a minimum right now i just want to fix what i have. Next question is what is the easiest way to check the preload, i figure i'm gonna have to pull the intake off.

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148126 01/03/12 11:24 PM 01/03/12 11:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,008 wv D Dartcuda super stock
Dartcuda super stock D Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,008 wv	Remove left valve cover . Cylinder #1 at TDC , using a straight edge scribe a line on #1 pushrods. Loosen rocker shaft to no preload , scribe a second line . Measure distance between lines = preload .

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: Dartcuda] #1148127 01/04/12 08:53 PM 01/04/12 08:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa. EvilScamp OP enthusiast
EvilScamp OP enthusiast Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa.	Thanks everyone for the help it's much appreciated! Hopefully i can figure the noise out now!

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: EvilScamp] #1148128 01/04/12 09:58 PM 01/04/12 09:58 PM
Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska R RapidRobert Circle Track
RapidRobert Circle Track R Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 36,041 Lincoln Nebraska	post the outcome! live every 24 hour block of time like it's your last day on earth

Re: Lifter preload on a 340? [Re: RapidRobert] #1148129 01/15/12 06:04 PM 01/15/12 06:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa. EvilScamp OP enthusiast
EvilScamp OP enthusiast Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 297 Pa.	Ok i got the push rod tool from Summit to measure the push rods, it looks like the push rods are .050 to long! Apparently they are collapsing the lifters to far but not enough to bend the push rods, could this make the sound that i been hearing? The rods i pulled out are 7 1/2 inches long and according to the tool with the .030 preload accounted for i need rods that are 7 7/16 long. I'm thinking now that the heads are shaved and/or the block has been decked and he just reused the factory rods. I don't know exactly what has been done to this engine but i do know that the previous owner did some pretty crappy work on other parts of the car and cut alot of corners, apperently he did the same with the engine work!

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