Replace lifters?

[R anger]

Took heads off to find one was cracked in between two of the coolant ports. I have new heads ready to be put on and I don't want this lifter to tick when I'm all done. It seems to be the front passenger side lifter that doesn't get enough oil. It looks like this end of the rocker arm shaft was plugged a bit . Maybe this lifter is now plugged? Is there a way to clean out the lifter/rocker shaft, or can I replace all the lifters without replacing the cam? Truck has 210 000 km.

 

[RustedRanger]

You can replace just the lifters but everything I have ever read and been told in 25 years is don't do it. I know many people have done it but flat tappet cams and lifters "wear" in together and the new lifters on the old cam can cause the cam to go "flat".

 

[rusty70f100]

You can put new lifters on an old cam, but not a new cam on old lifters.

Normally lifters tick because of a loss of oil pressure. I'd start by looking at the bearings and oil pump. After you get that fixed, then put in the new lifters. Ideally I'd combine it with a complete engine rebuild.

 

[R anger]

replace lifters?

Can I clean out the rocker arm shaft? Its like just the front passenger lifter doesn't get enough oil. My oil pressure was on the high side of normal and the oil only under the front pedestal, was chunky. Not really wanting to do the bottom end this year.

 

[rusty70f100]

I'm not sure if you're aware of this or not. The 2.9 doesn't oil the valvetrain through the pushrods. The pushrods are solid. This is not like a small block chevy. There is a passage through the cylinder head, from the block, where oil travels up through to one of the rocker shaft stands, then out through the rocker shaft stand to the rockers.

Unless the rocker assembly massively worn out causing general low oil pressure throughout the engine, it should not cause lifter tick. The only way it could is if it's so worn out that the lifter plunger has reached the top of it's travel and there is play in the valvetrain. This is unlikely.

I would encourage you to clean it out. I just don't think that it will correct the underlying problem.

Additionally, unless you put an actual mechanical gauge on it, you really don't know what the oil pressure is. The "gauge" is actually fake. You either have oil pressure or you don't. I think the cutoff point is 7psi. The factory gauge is no better than an idiot light.

Edit: You might get away with just new lifters and a high volume oil pump.

 

[R anger]

All get the oil pressure check when it's back on the road, soak the rocker arms in solvent and spray them out with compressed air. Anyone have a problem with these getting plugged up?

 

[90B24wd]

Yes you should check and clean out your rocker arm shafts. Drill a 1/8 hole on one end, then use a self taping screw that is slightly bigger than the hole. Now screw it in and pry out the plug. Find a 1/4 rod that is longer than the shaft to punch out the plug on the other end.
Let us know what you found? You could buy new Dorman plugs or Mig weld the plug you drilled. Beware there is 2 different inside
shaft diameters. (same on both ends)
Also don't mix up your rocker arms. Put them back in the same order.

 

[90B24wd]

Yes I did have rocker arm shafts that were plugged. Read my old posts.