I have a 88 f150 with a 351 fuel injected. I just bought it for a good price so I knew abpout the noise. The only time i've heard noise like this on other vehicles is on start up. It is pretty noisy. But on mine it happens very sporatically. Usually it doesn't happen right at start up. It comes and goes. it will sound fine no loud ticking then it will start ticking. I drive quite a bit and it doesn't matter if it is cold or not but it might tick for about a minute then stop for a minute. I am wondering if I have a bad lifter or I am not sure if the engine has roller rockers or not but maybe it has a flat spot on one of the rollers? Any ideas?

 

You must have a 351W, because they never made a Fuel Injected 351C or 351M.

 

Is their any importance to it being a 351W? Do they have a tendancy to have lifter noise?

 

I don't think that a 351W is any different than a 351C or 351M as far as the lifters go, but this is a forum for 351C, 351M, and 400 motors. You might get better information about a 351W on the 351W forum.