Exhaust Manifold Gaskets/Lifter Tick

[Marky Dissod]

At idle, it's not as messy as you imagine, and that's before you make some temporary roofless valvecovers
out of cardboard to minimize spillage before running the engine. Make them taller, but not too tall.

 

[JPVortex]

At idle, it's not as messy as you imagine, and that's before you make some temporary roofless valvecovers
out of cardboard to minimize spillage before running the engine. Make them taller, but not too tall.

Alright here it is, pulled it off real quick. Oil IS getting up to the valvetrain. But it looks disgusting for sure, lot darker than what's on the dipstick. But, yeah the tick can be very easily heard with the cover off, and it's pretty loud. Sounds like it may be coming from cylinder 2, will confirm with a stethoscope. No real play on the rocker arms, little side to side before I started it, but that's normal. So not sure what's going on here. I assume lifter, maybe rocker or pushrod?

Here's a video of the whole mess:

 

[JPVortex]

Update, got the stethoscope on it, not cylinder number 2. Drum rolllllll, the noise is coming from the intake valve on cylinder number 4. I go to the exhaust valve on cylinder 4 right next to it and the intake valve on cylinder 6 and the tick gets much quieter. Put it right on top of the bolt on the rocker for the intake valve on cylinder 4, it makes a racket. Very very loud especially with revs.

So now it's narrowed down even further. It's probably a lifter(most likely in my opinion, a rocker arm or a pushrod. I guess it could be a valve spring too but I highly doubt that)

 

[JPVortex]

Update, got the stethoscope on it, not cylinder number 2. Drum rolllllll, the noise is coming from the intake valve on cylinder number 4. I go to the exhaust valve on cylinder 4 right next to it and the intake valve on cylinder 6 and the tick gets much quieter. Put it right on top of the bolt on the rocker for the intake valve on cylinder 4, it makes a racket. Very very loud especially with revs.

So now it's narrowed down even further. It's probably a lifter(most likely in my opinion, a rocker arm or a pushrod. I guess it could be a valve spring too but I highly doubt that)

The lifer DOES seem to still be working though. Valve opens and closes exactly like it should when it should. I am suspecting rocker arm or pushrod *slightly*, as everything does seem to be working "fine".

 

[JPVortex]

Sorry for spam, keep diving deeper. Seems I have found something. It's very hard to tell even for myself, but it seems like the pushrod on intake cylinder 4 may be slightlyyy bent. Also, the trunnion bearing on the rocker arm seems to have some up and down slop/play, Just enough to be felt.

Think a lifter could've done this or the rocker arm?

Think I need at minimum to replace the rocker arm and pushrod.

Video:

 

[JPVortex]

So I pulled another rocker arm off. It does have a slight amount of up and down movement of the trunnion bearing aswell, but the cylinder 4 one has a bit more and also clicks more than the 2nd one I pulled off.

 

[JPVortex]

Ok, here’s the test. Got new pushrod, well 4. I ordered 1 pushrod and the autozone guy gave me 1 box lol. They’re melling, so a decent brand. New rocker arm will be here tomorrow.

Did a rolling test on my table with a new pushrod vs an old one. The new one easily rolls down the table and stops when it runs out of momentum. However the old one seems like it wants to hang, doesn’t want to roll with almost no effort like the new one. And when it is rolling it sounds like it’s rolling, then sound stops for a split second then it continues. Think it is bent!


And yet another video for you folks.

 

[Marky Dissod]

You may also want to replace the corresponding lifter.

 

[rockola1971]

You may also want to replace the corresponding lifter.

He likely dont want to have to pull the heads. But since pushrods and rocker arms are cheap I would atleast replace all of them. If there is any real problems with the lifters its because their rollers are hosed and the cam is likely done too.

 

[JPVortex]

He likely dont want to have to pull the heads. But since pushrods and rocker arms are cheap I would atleast replace all of them. If there is any real problems with the rockers its because their rollers are hosed and the cam is likely done too.

Yeah exactly, don’t want to pull the heads. I just need the truck to run and drive. If I had to the time I’d do it, but I don’t.

May replace all the rockers and pushrods, wouldn’t hurt. I’ll see what results I get from the known bad one first before I spend the money.

Seems like the top end of this engine is really going out the on me, it’s unfortunate for sure.