Changing Lifters - L98
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 174
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From: Bettendor Iowa
Changing Lifters - L98
First time Vette owner here....1985 L98. Engine sounds like it is making lifter noise so....pulled valve cover on passenger side (where I heard the noise). Check all rockers, all looked good. I found a push rod that I could easily spin. I adjusted the rocker to take the spin out of the pushrod, then added another quarter turn. Next, I checked the remaining valves...all seemed OK. When I went back to double check, that same loose pushrod was now again loose (could easily spin it). What is going on....is the lifter "bleedind down". Car has 116K miles...probably time for new lifters, springs, push rods, and upgrade to roller rockers right? How big of a job is this....Saturday afternoon project? Any suggestions for parts and source?
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Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 174
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From: Bettendor Iowa
Thanks for the replies. To answer your question....loose pushrod was on the intake for cylinder #7. I bumped the engine over until the exhaust valve just began to open, then adjusted the intake. Every time I re-adjusted it and waited a minute or two, I would go back to check it and find it loose again. I have to assume it is bleeding down. How can I accurately set my valves if I have lifters that do this?
Regarding the noisey injector mentioned above....how do you confirm that this is creating the noise? What can be done about it?
I would really like to eliminate this annoying sound.
Regarding the noisey injector mentioned above....how do you confirm that this is creating the noise? What can be done about it?
I would really like to eliminate this annoying sound.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
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From: backwoods upstate ny
pull the rocker arm off and look at the point where the rocker contacts the top of the valve...a groove worn into the rocher at that point is common--stops the lifter from ''adjusting'' itself and the clicking starts...if you find a bad one you can buy singles, but i'd suggest just doing the set--expect a nicer running engine
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,393
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From: Lakeville MI
A couple of my lifters are doing the same thing. #5 exhaust and #2 exhaust. I will be replacing all of them. I bought some speed pro/sealed power lifters from SDPC. Many forum members recomended the GM performance parts lifters, but I choked on the price.
I figured since I had a couple of bad lifters it was a good time to upgrade my intake base...I picked up a used TPIS bigmouth. Then a deal came around on a set of Superram uppers...
I will be getting around to replacing my lifters as soon as I'm done cleaning up the SR plenum, maybe tackle it this weekend.
This is turning into a $850 lifter replacement job, but that's how it goes sometimes.
Pulling an intake on these cars (L98s) can be time consuming. Give yourself a weekend.
I figured since I had a couple of bad lifters it was a good time to upgrade my intake base...I picked up a used TPIS bigmouth. Then a deal came around on a set of Superram uppers...
I will be getting around to replacing my lifters as soon as I'm done cleaning up the SR plenum, maybe tackle it this weekend.
This is turning into a $850 lifter replacement job, but that's how it goes sometimes.
Pulling an intake on these cars (L98s) can be time consuming. Give yourself a weekend.
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From: Hellinois
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[QUOTE=tequilaboy]A couple of my lifters are doing the same thing. #5 exhaust and #2 exhaust. I will be replacing all of them. I bought some speed pro/sealed power lifters from SDPC. Many forum members recomended the GM performance parts lifters, but I choked on the price.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with Sealed Power lifters, I've used them for years. I was told there are only a couple companies who make lifters anyway so the Sealed Power's could very well be the same lifter GM sells.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with Sealed Power lifters, I've used them for years. I was told there are only a couple companies who make lifters anyway so the Sealed Power's could very well be the same lifter GM sells.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
[
There's absolutely nothing wrong with Sealed Power lifters, I've used them for years. I was told there are only a couple companies who make lifters anyway so the Sealed Power's could very well be the same lifter GM sells.[/QUOTE]
right and right...i've used sp lifters on crane cams and swap meet cams that guys got with no lifters--no early valve float or wear noted.
GM ''outsources'' everything these days, wouldn't surprise me if their lifters are chinese
There's absolutely nothing wrong with Sealed Power lifters, I've used them for years. I was told there are only a couple companies who make lifters anyway so the Sealed Power's could very well be the same lifter GM sells.[/QUOTE]
right and right...i've used sp lifters on crane cams and swap meet cams that guys got with no lifters--no early valve float or wear noted.
GM ''outsources'' everything these days, wouldn't surprise me if their lifters are chinese
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Bettendor Iowa
Thanks all....what else could be causing this "ticking" noise? It increases as I rev the engine and seems to do it more after the engine is warmed up? Definately does NOT sound like it is deep in the motor...so I don't think it's a rod or something really serious.
If it is the fuel injector, is it an easy fix?
If it is the fuel injector, is it an easy fix?
Pro
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: charlotte nc
Originally Posted by Jansenwins
First time Vette owner here....1985 L98. Engine sounds like it is making lifter noise so....pulled valve cover on passenger side (where I heard the noise). Check all rockers, all looked good. I found a push rod that I could easily spin. I adjusted the rocker to take the spin out of the pushrod, then added another quarter turn. Next, I checked the remaining valves...all seemed OK. When I went back to double check, that same loose pushrod was now again loose (could easily spin it). What is going on....is the lifter "bleedind down". Car has 116K miles...probably time for new lifters, springs, push rods, and upgrade to roller rockers right? How big of a job is this....Saturday afternoon project? Any suggestions for parts and source?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 174
Likes: 1
From: Bettendor Iowa
Thanks for the reply and helpful info. It is, however, frustrating that I may have to just live with a ticking noise coming from an injector.
I am seriously looking to change cam, lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms. Any good cam and lifter combinations that are tried and true? I don't want to change the bottom end, but would like to go faster!
I am seriously looking to change cam, lifters, pushrods, and rocker arms. Any good cam and lifter combinations that are tried and true? I don't want to change the bottom end, but would like to go faster!
