What Would You Do.

DorianL

solid fixture here in the forum
Staff member
I have a new roller cam on a fresh but broken in 400 SBC.

When I fire up the engine, I seem to get rather loud lifter noise. But after two miles, it fades away. It sounds like only one lifter. Driving around, engine up to temp, the 400 sounds completely normal and healthy.

If I let the car sit for an hour or two, the lifter remains quiet.

I’m betting after an overnight, it’ll make a racket again, but I’ll check tomorrow.

What would you do ?

Also...

When would you change the oil and filter ?
 
I would do a quick oil change right away and maybe another after 500 miles and it sounds like a lifter is bleeding down it sucks just run it for a while as long as its pumping up but sooner or later you will have to change it
 
I have heard of an additive for noisy lifters but I've never used or seen it using it would be up to you I think its called Lifter Quiet
 
Pull the valves covers, start engine and determine which lifter is making noise. Put your thumb
on each rocker (push rod side) one at a time until the clicking sound changes or goes away.

Replace bad lifter.
 
Add some Marvel Mystery Oil to the crankcase.

if that does not solve after 15 -30 minutes


Pull the valves covers, start engine and determine which lifter is making noise. Put your thumb
on each rocker (push rod side) one at a time until the clicking sound changes or goes away.

Replace bad lifter.

yeah thats the route Id go
 
Yeah. That seems like the plan. Locate and replace. I hope it’ll be clear which one it is. These things are too expensive to replace all of them.

I have two rallies coming up, on June 6 and June 19. Like a vintage car crosscountry thing. I’ll take pics :D

I’ll replace the lifter after as it seems to be pumping up after a few hundred yards of driving. Maybe it was slightly damaged by the banana-ed pushrod when I forgot to tighten the rocker?

I’ll do an oil/filter change before the trip.
 
I hope your lifters are easier to change than mine . I have to pull the manifold and cylinder
head. The lifters are too tall to be installed with the head attached.
 
MMO is a high QUALITY MACHIONE AND ENGINE OIL, WITH A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SOLVENTS AND WEAR ADDITIVES ADDED
its not really going to cure any mechanical issues but it does tend to loosen stuck or binding parts,
and get into VERY SMALL SURFACE FISSURES TOO lubricate tight clearances,
and dissolve sludge and varnish.
\
I really wish scotty had the transporter working ,:rolleyes:
so I could instantly beam over and help member's diagnose,
and correct many of the members, problems, that are
having engine related issues,:mad: as having experience,
and the correct tools on hand sure helps,:D
\
its frustrating when you know it might take you only 10%-20% of the time,
and effort they face in many cases, to do so.;)
 
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