Noisy lifters

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 28, 2023 | 03:11 PM

BobM1949

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Nov 2021

Posts: 70

Likes: 0

From: East Haddam CT

Noisy lifters

Noisy lifter in my 49 flathead V8. How big of a job is it to fix?

Aug 28, 2023 | 03:36 PM

bmoran4

Parts Nerd Extraordinaire

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 4,353

Likes: 1,775

From: Western NY

You can always take the intake off and visually inspect things first yourself.

Aug 28, 2023 | 04:31 PM

seaves46

Laughing Gas

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 989

Likes: 113

From: australia

Would be easy if you have adjustable lifters in it .

Aug 28, 2023 | 05:16 PM

BobM1949

Thread Starter

Cross-Country

Joined: Nov 2021

Posts: 70

Likes: 0

From: East Haddam CT

What would i be looking for after taking the intake off?

Aug 28, 2023 | 05:21 PM

bmoran4

Parts Nerd Extraordinaire

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 4,353

Likes: 1,775

From: Western NY

You will be able to see if you have adjustable lifters and look for anything out of place such as broken springs, stuck valves, etc etc etc...

Aug 28, 2023 | 05:53 PM

mtflat

Lead Driver

Joined: Oct 1999

Posts: 6,774

Likes: 552

From: Kalispell, MT

Since it's a flathead, the lifter rides directly on the cam. The end of the valve rides directly against the lifter. Not much place for any noise that isn't obvious, as bmoran4 said.

Aug 28, 2023 | 06:13 PM

seaves46

Laughing Gas

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 989

Likes: 113

From: australia

And removing the intake will give you the opportunity to check the valve clearance .
Unfortunately if you have too much clearance you will need to look at why , which will mean a fair bit of work to fix .

Trending Topics

1995 Ford F150 Centurion 4x2 value

41

1.1k
Did dealer screw up my order??!!! - "91G" question

35

1.4k
1989 7.3 replacement starter

29

395
This is prolly a 1 page thread at most

110.2k

6M
F550 First Trip, Heavy tow, Noises / shudder

20

554

Aug 30, 2023 | 05:48 AM

big job

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 1,603

Likes: 44

Most way over think the Ford V8 as said many times it is a common lawnmower engine with seven more cylinders. Failures with valve lash always points to adjustable lifters. The last failure build was my own personal vehicle. Original solid lifters cannot fail, however noise only happen with valve seat recession. People think. solids are a pain, not so: Think how Ford did it producing thousands engines a day. By a simple precision Jig ! Watch "Fiat Nutz" on Utube with his jig for intake one for exhaust' I cannot explain this but the jig is a mirror image of the block. Ex: valve, guide and lifter in the jig then a .012 feeler gauge (lifter & stem then measure with a mic. total length: But if valves and seat have been ground which sinks the valve a little deeper allow for that. The last thing would be camshaft isn't rattling around bad cam bearings. So no more adj lifters for us except Ford tractor lifters if you can find them. Pictures are a thousand word but my phone refuses to load to computer ? sam