Collapsed lifter (Maybe)

[bjermane1]

I believe I have collapsed lifters. Ive tried everything to unstick them for for the past few months but they've only gotten louder. Im going to start on them next friday, but until Im trying to gather as much info as I can on the install. Never done any type of real head work so Im looking for a little guidance. I have a few questions: What gaskets need to be replaced?What else should I replace? If it isnt my lifters what else could it be? Tried looking for a lifter install, but i was unlucky. Any other good installs to check out?
That about sums up what I have to ask so far. Thanks in advance

 

[blueguy]

To rule that is 100% the lifters I'd toss in some Lucas Stop Tick and see if the noise goes away a little.

As for a guide to remove them...your going to need to remove the upper intake manifold/lower intake manifold...drain the coolant (which would be first and foremost)...you'll need to remove your valve covers and take off the rockers and grab the pushrods out...then unbolt the lifter guides (2 bolts on each guide...and they stay in the guide...they don't come out)...and then you can pull out the lifters from there...so its basically a LIM/VC gasket job.

At this time I'd get rid of the dexcool and toss in better...cheaper...green or yellow coolant...get new Metal GM Lower Intake gaskets and Felpro Valve cover gaskets. You will also need new rocker bolts since the factory ones are Torque to Yield...which you can get Comp Cam Re-Useable bolts fairly cheap...for like 20 bucks...then you'll be ready for your rocker install later on and you can skip buying bolts there.

 

[FordMan77]

Keep you pushrods in order so they go back to the same rocker as they came out from. Get a piece of cardboard and punch holes in it enough for all the pushrods, then label them in some fashion that will let you know what order they came out in. Then just stick the pushrods in the cardboard and set aside until reassembly.

 

[blueguy]

^^I use egg cartons...they work great and the rocker sits right in place as well.

 

[bjermane1]

It was missing the other night extremely bad. I left before it warmed up (and yes i did push it/was late for work) and my car went into a reduced power state. Same type of feeling when I burnt my valves and cracked a head a year ago. But since then its been running fine. I did see some white smoke saturday but it also went away. But so far its only ticking. Was only in cold starts but now its all the time and loud. Ive tried seafoam and other products and also 3 oil changes. Twice this month the ticks were extremely loud; once the day of the first incedent and again the day it smoked. I also just took a look at my dog bone and the motor mount is broken. Completely snaped. Ill post a pic in a minute. Could it be related to lifters?

 

[blueguy]

Could be actually metal on metal contact between the swaybar and the downpipe if the motor mount is totally destoryed...somethings making contact that shouldnt...which could also explain your "reduced power state" as the motor thinks it is knocking really bad when in fact it is false knock and its pulling power for no reason.

As for the white smoke though...sounds like it could be LIM gaskets popped on ya...check those.

 

[FordMan77]

^^I use egg cartons...they work great and the rocker sits right in place as well.

That's a good idea. Never thought of that! Of course if I quit breaking things that require the pushrods to be removed then that would be better, lol...

OP- You say you looked at your dog bone and the motor mount is busted? Well, which one is broken, the dogbone (the 2 mounts up front that bolt to the radiator core support) or the ACTUAL motor mount that sits on the pass. side of the motor under the crank pulley? Confucius say what?

 

[bjermane1]

That's a good idea. Never thought of that! Of course if I quit breaking things that require the pushrods to be removed then that would be better, lol...

OP- You say you looked at your dog bone and the motor mount is busted? Well, which one is broken, the dogbone (the 2 mounts up front that bolt to the radiator core support) or the ACTUAL motor mount that sits on the pass. side of the motor under the crank pulley? Confucius say what?

Part connecting dog bone to engine. Sorry if I have terms wrong

 

[FordMan77]

Ah, its the aluminum mount that the dogbone attaches to on the pass. side. Common area to crack. No, this would not affect the lifters but does need to be replaced.

If you can't find a used one at a JY then I may have a good one laying around I could sell. IIRC, there is a year(s) that had a steel mount there that may be better to use.