Hydraulic lifters
 

My 92 3.0 l just acquired a top end engine noise. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>

I pulled the L.H. valve cover off to look for something obvious like a broken spring or a rocker etc. and found nothing broken.<o:p></o:p>

I did however notice play in one of the rockers and since the spring was okay and there was no wear on the rocker fulcrum, I assume that the hydraulic lifter must have failed.<o:p></o:p>

Anybody had this happen to them? Is it common?<o:p></o:p>

Looks like a straight forward repair, but a time consuming one, so any advice or tips would be appreciated. <o:p></o:p>

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These are roller rockers in the aerostar. The lifter could be worn or the cam.

Does this mean they are not hydraulic?
I dont think its a wear issue because the noise came very suddenly.

If a cam lobe goes flat it will rattle. You could have one that is plugged up and not pumping up.

Also one of the push rods could be worn.

They are roller rockers but they are hydrulic roller rockers

Wow, just priced out new lifters and they aint cheap!
The guy at the parts store said he knows where to get them rebuilt for about half the cost of new ones.
Anybody heard of this?

The lifters are not that hard to take apart. Perhaps all you need is to clean up all the junk inside. If the rollers do not have play and the sides are not scratched up, I'd do that and reuse the lifters. By the way, you have a 4.0L, right? Those lifters are really expensive. The 3.0L are much cheaper to maintain and rebuild.

Regards

Aerocook:

Try at http://www.flatlanderracing.com/rebuildkitsford.html for the lifters.
This is where I bought the Master Rebuild Kits to rebuild the two 3.0 I have.
High Quality Stuff.

Jay