I have a 1987 F-150 4x4 that is my play truck for the last 3 years since i dropped the used engine in it, it has had a rattle at high rpm's i thought it was the transmission since the last engine did the same. someone finally mentioned it sounded like lifter so this past weekend i decided to try lifters before another engine to save $$$$$. i bought 16 lifters new valve gaskets and new intake set, new coolant neck, thermostat and rad hoses. when i installed the engine i already had the truck set up for a carb and runs good. removed carb, drained coolant removed distributer and picked up intake. removed valve covers and one cyl at a time exchanged lifters and reconnected rockers. preped mating surfaces installed new gaskets according to manual and installed all parts removed. serviced engine and ran. temp gauge is indicating high but engine does not feel hot and engine now makes a almost whining noise or like a pump cavitating momentarily every few moments. water is flowing and i am keeping good oil pressure. i have had fords for 0ver 10 years and never experienced this noise, and i am hard on an engine. i am satisfied i am not overheating but i am scared to drive the truck with this noise. i am not showing a loss of coolant but am wondering if maybe there is a gasket leak from coolant ports to intake ports or something making the noise. any suggestions???

 

Well, I'm guessing you have a V8 of some sort because you said 16 lifters. Which one?

 

i have a 302 with a holley 600. i found the weird noise to be the new oil fill cap was not venting letting oil biuld up on top of heads and would gurgle to get into pan. i do not know if i need a vented oil cap or not i have ford racing rocker covers and used to have a filter type filler cap and switched to this closed one. but i would think the pcv would vent the block. the rattle that i changed the lifters for was gone with i had the gurlge problem but now that i took off that sealed cap adn the gurlge is gone the rattle is back into the engine so i am where i started. i think it all ties into block venting and pressure but i am unsure of how the system is to operate. is my pcv not working properly or sould i have more restrictice oil fill not completely sealed or fully ventable? any suggestions? thanks for replying even though i did not have good information.