Lifter replacement

[loder]

Howdy. I've been hearing valve(s) tapping for some time now - Tried Lucas, Seafoam, Slick 50 with no luck. What for job is it to change out the lifters? This is my only vehicle so I love it if I could do it in one weekend. Special tools??
My experience level: have never tackled anything inside the engine, trans case, or tranny - worked on about everything else.

Thanks

PS: gonna feel dumb if it's an exhaust leak but how do you tell?

 

[bisjoe]

A few things you can try. Easiest is to get a length of vacuum or fuel line hose, put one end to your ear and carefully move the other end around the exhaust manifolds with engine idling. If you don't hear it have someone give it a little gas until you can hear it.

Another way is to spray some intake/carb cleaner like gumout around the areas where it might be leaking, if there's a leak it will cause the engine to slow or stumble.

Last one is to take it to a muffler shop and pay them to diagnose and fix if needed.

As for changing the lifters, you should really also replace the camshaft. The cam lobes and lifters wear together, so if you put in new lifters without changing the camshaft the old one will wear out a lot faster. If it's a high mileage vehicle that you don't plan to keep all that long, then just lifters might be acceptable. Even then you have to take out the entire intake
and remove the rocker arm assemblies, not an easy job for a first timer.

 

[Cobraguy]

Check the lobes of your camshaft when you pull the lifters. I would be shocked if it needs replacement. Roller lifter cams last forever it seems. But if they show wear, replace it. If not, re use it. The new lifters will not wear it out one bit sooner.

I would be willing to bet that if the cam checks out, your tick is in the rocker, pushrod, and pedestal area. These are wear items. With the cylinder on TDC or the base circle, the pedestal bolt should turn appx 3/4 of a turn after zero lash. My rule of thumb on a passenger car is no less than 1/2 a turn and no more than 1 1/2 turns. Even a 1/2 a turn is cutting it close.

As far as the exhaust leak, well, they are two different ticks. And you find it by careful listening. Another old trick if you can't locate it is to back the car outside and slowly introduce ATF into the engine through a centrally located vacuum port or similar. Be very careful and go slow so you don't dump a bunch on top a piston. This will smoke things up and you can watch for smoke around your noise to identify where it's leaking. This shouldn't take very much and will not harm any sensors if only done briefly.

 

[loder]

Ok thanks. I'll try listening carefully. If I need to replace anything in the heads, I'll leave it to the pros. Exhaust leak, I can handle.

 

[xadriannn]

wishing i could do this myself, anyone have a book or know where i can find out how much labor is involved, i want to know the numbers before i start askin around.