I can hear a light tap in my new rebuilt 289. Its a lifter that hasn't primed. I was told a little tranmission fluid in the oil would prime it. BEFORE i try this i wanted to run this by you guys.

 

The lifter should pump up on it's own...it's a little too late to "prime" a lifter once the engine has been run. You may have a bad lifter or one of the rockers are loose. Personally I would be leary of putting trans fluid in a new engine.

 

I don't have maybe 45 mins of running time on the motor so maybe it will work it self out. THANKS

 

I wouldn't give it too long. You could mushroom a valve stem if you allow it to pound very long. I would check the rocker arm immediatley.

 

Real common for them to need a little run time, but if it weren't at least partly full, it would be LOUD, and 45 minutes should be plenty of time. That makes me suspect it may not be the lifter but the adjustment. Do your valves have adjustment at the rocker?