4.0 ohv cam change

jds3403 · Apr 7, 2008

Hello this thread is to all who want to change the rockers lifters and cam in their 4.0 ohv as i have done this recently and can help with any questions as i know this can seem to be overwhelming but it's not and it's worth it feel free to leave any questions and i would love to answer them.

cville162 · Aug 1, 2009

Does anyone sell a cam and lifters set?

cr_the_machinist · Aug 1, 2009

I've only seen remanufactured lifter sets on ebay and they were a little too cheap for comfort.... If I was putting in all that effort I'd buy new ones. I've seen them like $30~45 individually.

cville162 · Aug 1, 2009

How do you know if the roller lifters are bad? Can they be depressed like other hydraulic lifters.

Evan · Aug 1, 2009

The cam and lifters last quite awhile on the 4.0. Mine looked like new after 216,000 miles.

The rockers and pushrods are what usually need to be replaced when you experience valvetrain noise.

JunkYardRanger · Aug 1, 2009

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-49-422-8/
with the camshaft in the first link, it makes very good bottom end power ..... along with headers, a chip, and a bigger throttle body, I went from 160 HP to 190 hp and from 220 ft lbs of tq to 274 ft lbs of tq I will tell you this you need custom length push rods and lose a lot of vacuum at low idle idle ... I do not recommend using this camshaft with a completely stock motor.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-49-410-8/
this camshaft I ran in another motor when I blew up (hydro locked) the other motor I describe I put it in a bone stock motor and still run it to this day it adds a hair of bottom end grunt but from what I can tell not having dynoed the motor I am running now, there was no HP increase just a tq I could be wrong, but there is no other mods done to the motor I am running now .. I was givin this cam, so I installed it

jds3403 · Aug 4, 2009

cam stuff

Hey,

I got the cam and remanufactured rocker assemblies from delta cams.

They designed the cam that I bought to not mess with the factory valve train geometry, something that others do not do. If you get the cam kit from delta, you do not need anything else... no pushrods, anything. The cam i got was dsigned resembling the "410" cam however it is a little more computer friendly. I got remaned lifters from Mizpah machine. They came with a warranty and were 120.00 for all. the cam kit was 300 total. pretty cheap, until you add gaskets and all the other stuff hope that helps

Regards, Jeff Snyder

yorgy · Aug 5, 2009

noise

Okay here's one for you . I just replaced the heads on my 97 4 liter . I didn't replace the pushrods or the rocker arms cause they looked ok and I'd never had any noise problems . So now I've got a noise . It sounds like it could be valve train noise but it's not coming from the rocker arm area .It sounds the loudest under the car (at the front exhaust pipe Y ) or if you stick your ear in the right wheel well .It also is alot worse at idle. So I'm thinking I got crud in one of the lifters . But the general feeling I get from posts on this site is that it has to be the pushrods or rockers . Anyway what I really would like to know is if it's a lifter can I let it slide for about 800 miles ? Thanks yorgy

Tee Rev · Aug 5, 2009

yorgy said:
Okay here's one for you . I just replaced the heads on my 97 4 liter . I didn't replace the pushrods or the rocker arms cause they looked ok and I'd never had any noise problems . So now I've got a noise . It sounds like it could be valve train noise but it's not coming from the rocker arm area .It sounds the loudest under the car (at the front exhaust pipe Y ) or if you stick your ear in the right wheel well .It also is alot worse at idle. So I'm thinking I got crud in one of the lifters . But the general feeling I get from posts on this site is that it has to be the pushrods or rockers . Anyway what I really would like to know is if it's a lifter can I let it slide for about 800 miles ? Thanks yorgy

Sometimes an exhaust leak sounds very similar to valvetrain noise. & with the area you describe the sound coming from, it sounds like you have one. I'd start by checking all of the manifold bolts & work your way down the exhaust until you've found the leak.

jds3403 · Aug 6, 2009

yorgy said:
Okay here's one for you . I just replaced the heads on my 97 4 liter . I didn't replace the pushrods or the rocker arms cause they looked ok and I'd never had any noise problems . So now I've got a noise . It sounds like it could be valve train noise but it's not coming from the rocker arm area .It sounds the loudest under the car (at the front exhaust pipe Y ) or if you stick your ear in the right wheel well .It also is alot worse at idle. So I'm thinking I got crud in one of the lifters . But the general feeling I get from posts on this site is that it has to be the pushrods or rockers . Anyway what I really would like to know is if it's a lifter can I let it slide for about 800 miles ? Thanks yorgy

Hello,

To determine if it is an exhaust leak, you might have some noise at idle however under part or heavy throttle you will definitely experience this noise and it would be louder than idle. If you determine that it is not an exhaust leak, it might be that the deck height has changed. Either the heads might have been a couple thousandths bigger or more probable, the head gaskets that you used might of had a different crush height than the ones that were in there. This difference in height comes into play because the lifters can only compensate so much. If they were already at there limit with worn push rod heads and rocker cups (common poor oil supply) then any change could have been enough to now cause a gap between valve train parts to make a tapping noise.
increased oil pressure usually causes the lifters to swell too so above idle speeds (higher oil pressures) might make these noises less severe as compared to idle or lower oil pressures.

Also make sure and check that your rocker rails are tight and nothing has come loose.

Usually the lifters are pretty good and rarely fail. I seriously doubt that your lifters are bad.

If you dont have an exhaust leak, and your rocker rails are tight then I would replace the rockers and pushrods :icon_cheers:

Have a good one

Regards, Jeff Snyder

Angie · Aug 7, 2009

Ok here is a Q for you guys. Rebuilding 4.0 new bearings on bottom end (main and crank) new rings, new complete gaskets O rings and seals, new elgin lifters, 410 cam, stock heads with new valve seatings and seals, (diy porting). Here is the Q - what pushrods did you replace the old ones with? And will stock Ford lengths be sufficeint? or do you have a part number that you can give me to look into? or do i need to get them custom built? and does any company out there make a roller rocker for the 4.0L? I was quoted $25.00 each for new cast rockers.... OUCH (going to pick-a-part to get best *new* ones to replace the worn ones I have now)

thanks

Angie · Aug 7, 2009

Oh I forgot one other question. The stock factory installed Camshaft... does anyone have the factory specs on what (ford) used on these sticks?

Big Jim M · Aug 7, 2009

Howdy Angie

Angie said:
Oh I forgot one other question. The stock factory installed Camshaft... does anyone have the factory specs on what (ford) used on these sticks?

I don't think Ford posts their cam specs. I have seen a few that others have tested certain camshafts and posted their results.
If they, by chance, do post specs the specs prolly won't be the same as the way others measure their camshafts. So it would be like comparing apples to oranges.
Big JIm :icon_confused:

4.0 ohv cam change

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