Ticking Issues got complicated
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Waycross Georgia
Ticking Issues got complicated
Ok, you all know my car is ticking, was..i brought it to a shop they adjusted the lifters, said that one was about to come off and so now its ok, but they said its not moving as much as the others, they said that this could be 1) Worn Cam Lobe, or 2) Sticking Lifter....Anyone got any ideas how to figure it out...Some mustang owners are talkin poo. And i want to make sure its nothing 2 bad b4 i got fill up my GoGo Juice bottle and go put some whoopin down...36k on the motor. Thanks
C4Dreams
C4Dreams
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 871
Likes: 1
From: Union KY
Re: Ticking Issues got complicated (C4Dreams)
I hate to be the bearer of ill tidings (in the season of glad tidings) , but it does sound like it could be a worn cam lobe. BUT... If it were a partially collapsed lifter it would shift the arc of arm's movement (but not the amount) of vertical movement. And that can look like the lift is reduced to the causual observer.
To determine if it's the cam lobe, I'd remove the valve cover on the offending bank and jury rig a measuring jig to measure the amount of lift to make sure. Measure from the same point on the head to the top of the rocker arm on two valves (the suspect one and one not thought to be a bad actor).
If you can manually rotate the engine through one full cycle (two revolutions TDC to TDC) while you measure the vertical movement of two adjecent sets of rocker arms (from fully closed to fully open) you'll be able to compare the lift of the suspected bad lobe/lifter versus a good one. If they are the same, it's a bad lifter. If it's actually less, I'm afraid it's time for that Hot Cam upgrade you've been thinking about anyway. Cire 96
To determine if it's the cam lobe, I'd remove the valve cover on the offending bank and jury rig a measuring jig to measure the amount of lift to make sure. Measure from the same point on the head to the top of the rocker arm on two valves (the suspect one and one not thought to be a bad actor).
If you can manually rotate the engine through one full cycle (two revolutions TDC to TDC) while you measure the vertical movement of two adjecent sets of rocker arms (from fully closed to fully open) you'll be able to compare the lift of the suspected bad lobe/lifter versus a good one. If they are the same, it's a bad lifter. If it's actually less, I'm afraid it's time for that Hot Cam upgrade you've been thinking about anyway. Cire 96
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 848
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Re: Ticking Issues got complicated (cire96)
Spend the $100 on a good dial indicator and a magnetic base. Measure the lift off the rocker, and you'll know for sure. You can also swap a lifter from another bore, just to make sure it's not a cam lobe. Wiped-out cam lobes are practically non existent with roller lifters (assuming that's what you have).
If it's a collapsed lifter, no problem, just replace it. It only means the internal plunger and spring have collapsed. DON'T eyeball it, 'cause you're measuring thousandths of an inch.
[Modified by fullboogie, 5:50 PM 12/18/2002]
If it's a collapsed lifter, no problem, just replace it. It only means the internal plunger and spring have collapsed. DON'T eyeball it, 'cause you're measuring thousandths of an inch.
[Modified by fullboogie, 5:50 PM 12/18/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 27,818
Likes: 8
From: CT
Ticking Issues got complicated
I had this EXACT problem not too long ago. It came from out of nowhere also. Fired the car cold one morning and it had a bad tick. It was the number 8 area(firing order) lifter. :lol: it's too bad, because the bad one is mixed in with 15 good lifters. Any way to tell which one is the bad one outside of putting it all back in again?
Replacing them isn't too bad of a job. Super rams make it fun :D . Keep us posted,and hopefull you'll get it corrected asap.
JD
Replacing them isn't too bad of a job. Super rams make it fun :D . Keep us posted,and hopefull you'll get it corrected asap.
JD
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 848
Likes: 0
From: Houston TX
Re: Ticking Issues got complicated (JD 90 383)
Use a long-handled screwdriver to your ear, or a stethescope, and put in on the valve cover. You should be able to narrow it down to just one cylinder. When you take the lifter out, you may be able to see the plunger collapsed down into the lifter body (the plunger is the little concave disc that the pushrod sits on). If it's not obvious, then you have to go the route of using a dial indicator.
If, using the dial indicator, you find a rocker that doesn't have the right lift, it's either the lifter or the lobe. Switch another lifter in there, and measure again. If it's the same reading, the lobe is bad. If the reading changes to the proper lift, it's the lifter.
If, using the dial indicator, you find a rocker that doesn't have the right lift, it's either the lifter or the lobe. Switch another lifter in there, and measure again. If it's the same reading, the lobe is bad. If the reading changes to the proper lift, it's the lifter.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Waycross Georgia
Re: Ticking Issues got complicated (fullboogie)
Its the 1st one on the passenger side, the one closest to the front of the car...And according to my machanic its not moving as much wich he said was either a whiped cam lobe or a bad lifter...It goes ok so i dunno what to expect. Papa got smoked bye a 5.0 last night so i dont know whats wrong if my L98 is just not that fast or what...ANy other imput on that one>? I have a cam just dont know if i need to put it in cause i was hopin to have it on my other motor that im having built.
C4Dreams
C4Dreams
