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Old Oct 25, 2014 | 04:08 PM
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Clacking rocker assembly

This is driving me nuts. One assembly has just a faint amount of ticking and the engine idles fine. The original assembly, after being disassembled, cleaned and tolerances checked was just put back in and it seems everything is ticking and the engine dies at idle.

Obviously there is clearance but from where. Non-adjustable assembly, heads not milled, engine not decked, original pushrods. The only part not original are the lifters and are there different heights available for our FE engines? I'm beginning to wonder as there sounds like I have a few thousands of an inch now unaccounted for.
 
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Old Oct 25, 2014 | 05:31 PM
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Solved the problem. The solution was simple but let's see if anyone can beat this for being completely stupid in over looking something.

The routine:

Passenger side rocker assembly switched
Valve cover back on
PCV back in
Attach spark plugs

Driver's side assembly switched
Valve cover back on
Oil breather to be put back but notice debris falling out of it. When I hit it against my palm there is little bits of rust and steel wire. This isn't going back on so into the garage to find a replacement I know I have buried. Find it and on it goes.

Into the truck and start. Running at 1800 rpm, a little shaky and ticking. Dies at idle. Try one more time and post above. Then go outside to remove the valve covers and when I get to the driver's side I see what...??? Did I already do this a moment ago?
 
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 10:04 AM
  #3  
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Different height lifters

Originally Posted by tbm3fan
This is driving me nuts. One assembly has just a faint amount of ticking and the engine idles fine. The original assembly, after being disassembled, cleaned and tolerances checked was just put back in and it seems everything is ticking and the engine dies at idle.

Obviously there is clearance but from where. Non-adjustable assembly, heads not milled, engine not decked, original pushrods. The only part not original are the lifters and are there different heights available for our FE engines? I'm beginning to wonder as there sounds like I have a few thousands of an inch now unaccounted for.
I'm thinking that the FE heads that use adjustable rocker arms have a ball on one end and a cup on the other and don't quote me on this but I think that the push rods are ( maybe ) .100 longer so the new lifters may be for a adjustable rocker set up ??/ I think not sure that the adjustable rockers stock came both ways ??/ Solid and hydraulic ?// So I'm going to say that they had two different height lifters for the same engine the differences being the rocker arms??/
PUSHRODS, FE FORD, 9.590", NON ADJUSTABLE BALL/BALL

Here's another forum with FE lifter noise https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...oise.html:-X18
 
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 11:44 AM
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My guess is you got the rocker shaft bolts mixed up?
 
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Old Oct 26, 2014 | 01:07 PM
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Something else is with my FE ford in a inboard boat 390 V Drive I kept hearing a lifter clicking noise ??/ Pulled a valve cover started it the engine and I watched a rocker arm fall off the top of the valve to a location on top of the retainer??/ The cause was the weak springs that separate the rocker arms and pedestals from one another ??/ The remedy is aluminum spacers sleeves that take the place of the springs??/ At one time PAW use to sell and you can probably still get them through JEG'S or Summit racing
 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 01:55 AM
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Originally Posted by hiball3985
My guess is you got the rocker shaft bolts mixed up?
Nope the plug wires for 5-8 were not connected and yet the engine started and ran at 1500 rpm despite that. Just a little rough but not enough to make you go now what!
 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by tbm3fan
Nope the plug wires for 5-8 were not connected and yet the engine started and ran at 1500 rpm despite that. Just a little rough but not enough to make you go now what!
I wouldn't have admitted that after pulling the upper assemblys apart again. lol
 
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Old Oct 28, 2014 | 08:11 AM
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From: tujunga, calif
Originally Posted by tbm3fan
Nope the plug wires for 5-8 were not connected and yet the engine started and ran at 1500 rpm despite that. Just a little rough but not enough to make you go now what!
OK, I thought you were having a rocker noise problem.
 
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