Hello, I just bought a rebuilt 351W to replace the one in my 84 F150. I have put about 100 miles on the engine since the rebuild, and I am noticing some lifter or rocker arm rattle. The guy I bought the engine from said that it was rebuilt 2 years ago and has been sitting in storage since and had never been started. He told me that it might be because the oil hasn't worked it's way through the hydraulic lifters yet. I'm no ASE Mech, but I have bent a few wrenches in my time, and this sounds like B.S to me. I am open to any info. Thanks!!!

 

I presume that you have the positive stop rocker arm studs. Maybe the push rods are a little on the short side? I once had an early 302 with a noise that drove me nuts. Finally found that one of the rockers was wearing on the stud. Actually wore a slot in it.

 

Firing up an engine that's been sitting for 2 years with very little, if any, lubrication on the valvetrain can cause wear on the cam lobes, inside the lifters, on the ends of the pushrods and rocker pivots within seconds.

 

Hi, i agree with Quantrex, in that case you have to build up oil pressusre without starting the engine by operating the oil pump with a old distrbutor shaft and a slow twisting drill maschine under turning the crankshaft by hand or wrench.

Jens

 

I WAS TOLD THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS RUN-UP USING A DRILL BEFORE THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. DOES ANYONE THINK IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GRADE OF OIL? IT HAS 10W40 IN IT NOW.