78 inline 6 lifter tap

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Feb 15, 2004 | 11:37 AM

yabo99

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From: palmer

78 inline 6 lifter tap

I have a 78 F150 2WD. I just had the head rebuilt and it has been about 500-750 miles since. I heard a tapping noise from under the valvecover the other day and thought it was the rockers. Do I have to go and retighten them down? My other question is my truck has a C4 tranny and it slips from park to reverse at idle. The linkage is fine, and my tranny was rebuilt a month ago. The guy who did the tranny said it was a defect from ford around those years. What is the fix?

Feb 15, 2004 | 12:05 PM

rainbowATF

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Joined: Oct 2003

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From: Elyria, Ohio

I have 1979 302 with C4. Have not experienced gear switch. Even if Ford did have a problem; there would be a fix. Any trans company I have used; always installs kits with the latest updates.
No one should knowingly fix a transmission and let it operate in that manner. Ford might have had a liability; now it is your mechanics. Sounds like crap; get it fixed right. Consult manual for proper setup of hydraulic lifters and rockers. Haynes or Chiltons manual; copy section at your local library. There are many threads here in forums; search

Feb 15, 2004 | 05:15 PM

tetraruby300

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From: Central Coast, CA

I have a '79 F100 with the a C4. I'm at 225K+ miles and my motor has had that lifter tap for quite a while. The lifter tap seems to be common to the 300, there are a lot of posts over in the inline forum about the symptom. I don't understand what your writing about your tranny "slipping" into reverse. When I first bought my truck it idled so bad that the gear shifter (that had a broken spring in it) would rattle so much it would kick into reverse. You might have a broken shifter spring or the little plate in the column might be broken. Seeing how it was recently rebuilt, I'd think that maybe the linkage is a little to bias to the revese position when the shifter is in park. -just some thoughts to check out.

Feb 16, 2004 | 01:45 AM

Torque1st

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Any good tranny shop should be able to diagnose and fix your shift problem. For more information on a 300 see the Inline six forum.

May 28, 2004 | 07:48 PM

STGFordCrazy04

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From: St George, SC I-95

I have had 3 different 300 6's start tapping. I think its a common place on these motors after about 100,000 miles. I drive my 79 150 4x4 every day with the lifters tapping. These motors are so tough I dont think it matters. My buddy drove his 79 with the 300 20 miles with no hose from the waterpump to the radiator. Thats tough in 100 degree heat. If that doesnt kill an engine theres no way alittle tap tap tappy will.

May 28, 2004 | 08:44 PM

mjl351w

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Joined: Dec 2002

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From: Akron

A lil lifter tap ain't such a bad thing , I bought a truck for 500$ because the lifter was tapping. The truck has 239,000 miles on it now and i drive it everyday. So what if it taps , ya have a radio, turn it up and forget about it.

The best thing about a str8 "6" is that it was never built to be a race motor just a slave to get you from point A to B hauling a load .