Lifter Tick solved Finally

[hiredgoon]

I'm sure you get asked this all the time on this site, but how is your lifter issue these days? I did some trading recently and got a set of used World Heads, installed, on my '90 b2. I told the guy who did the work about the rocker shaft issues you noted but i don't know how well he cleaned mine out. For the first two weeks it let out hardly a tick, but now it is back, however not as bad as before. Would it be worth it to hog them out as you did, or simply replace them as they are only about $35 each? I normaly do all my own wrenchin' but I couldn't pass up this trade offer. thanks for your time.

 

[ChopTop84]

Previous owner of my 2wd B2 never changed the oil. He just kept adding oil. He sold it to me with a "bad oil pump". Got it home and found it has "no oil". Added a few quarts and oil pressure came right up. Then fell right off. Then came right up again. over and over. and lifter tick?! holy ticking lifters batman!

Flushed the engine a couple times, and even ran some diesel fuel in the block for a minute or two. Helped a TON!

About a year later I changed the valve cover gaskets and this is when I discovered the previous owners oil change habits.....

The sludge inside the valve covers was so thick, it actually had indents in the sludge from the lifters. And the valve covers weighed a ton from all that sludge.

So yes, its absolutely an oil flow issue, and these engines need GOOD oil, and GOOD oil change habits, and GOOD filters. (no penzoil oil, and no fram filters!)

I need to run a flush thru my engine again, and I have a feeling my oil pickup screen could use a good cleaning, but after a flush and a fresh oil change, the lifters are dead quiet until the oil starts getting a little old.

The old pinto 2000 and 2300 four banger motors were really picky about oil also, or you would ruin the cam.

 

[90B24wd]

Well, in my case when I got my first Bronco II the previous owner replaced the 90 2.9 with a 87 2.9. To make a long story short someone didn't change their oil like they should. When I popped open the valve covers to snug up the rocker nuts, I noticed that oil was not flowing out on a few rocker arms. Figured that the shaft must be plugged. I punched a hole on one end of the shaft and found it to be clogged with dry sludge. On my other 90 bronco II I drilled a small hole then, screwed in a sheet metal screw and pry the plug out. Use a rod long enough to punch out the plug on the other end. You can reuse this plug.
(beware that their is 2 different inside diameter shafts. It's the same on bought ends)
A parts store near you should have dorman replacement plugs. Second Bronco shafts were clean because the previous owner had used synthetic oil.
Some people would not agree with my method of snugging up the rocker arm nuts.
I'd use an old heater hose to listen for the loudest tapping first. Manual says 1.5 turns after zero lash. I sometimes go 3+ turns. Lifters could be worn out. I listen for a light faint tick. THIS IS MY SAFETY MARGIN!!!. I would turn off the engine and snug it a little at a time. BEWARE OVER TIGHTEN MAY CRACK YOUR HEADS ACCORDING TO SOME OTHER KNOW IT ALLS.
Also use motorcraft oil filter, if you have a Fram filter get rid of it. It will restrict your oil flow. Make sure you have good oil flow before snugging up the nuts.

 

[90B24wd]

I just wanted this thread up front to educate our newer members on this ticking problem. And or to see if anyone out there have any doubts on my methods?