My 90 7.3 started to make a sound like a loud valvetap. It started the other day. It does not go away or get worse. Just taps. Can the lifters be removed by moving the rocker over, and come out the hole? I had a IH with a V8 gas engine and it was pretty easy. I never worked on the diesel other than maintenance. Or what else could it be. Does not sound like a rod or main, like I have heard in gas engines. Sounds like a tap. The truck sat for about six months before I bought it. It didn't have the noise when I got it last month. Thanks for any help.

 

The roller lifters won't come out through the heads, you'll have to pull the pump and the intake/valley pan.

 

Thanks for the reply. Is there a good way to check which one it is or just replace them all?

 

More than likely, the bearing on the roller went bad. The roller is probably flat by now. Check all of them while you are at it and check your cam lobe on the affected lifter(s). I had one go out one time. I fixed it right away so I didn`t damage the camshaft. I checked the rest and they were good so I left them. I have put many, many miles on the engine since then and have had no problem with the other lifters. Drain your radiator and block before beginning. I can`t remember how the oil filler neck is connected to the injector pump housing on the 7.3s so check that out with someone on here before pulling the injector pump. You don`t want to screw up your timimg!