390 Engine Ticking
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 237
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390 Engine Ticking
Hey there,
My friend recently purchased (today) a 1974 Ford F-100 with a 390. He told me the previous owner had it rebuit, and since then put 50,000 km on it. The owner also said that he only heard the ticking after the rebuild, and could only hear it at low RPM's.
Any Idea what this ticking could be, if it is serious, I would like to help him figure it out before he starts upgrading to avoid damage. I am going to go hear it run tomorrow.
Thanks!
My friend recently purchased (today) a 1974 Ford F-100 with a 390. He told me the previous owner had it rebuit, and since then put 50,000 km on it. The owner also said that he only heard the ticking after the rebuild, and could only hear it at low RPM's.
Any Idea what this ticking could be, if it is serious, I would like to help him figure it out before he starts upgrading to avoid damage. I am going to go hear it run tomorrow.
Thanks!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,815
Likes: 248
From: Piney Woods of East Texas
Could be a lifter noise, quite common. Need to know what oil pressure you have at idle. A lot of times if the oil pressure drops to around 10 psi you start to hear them.
If it's done it since it was rebuild I suspect that a lifter may be leaking, valve stem height is to low. Or has a different length pushrod in it, to short. Push rods come in + or -0.050" lengths. Lifters have little ball checks in them, it doesn't take much to prevent them from holding.
If it's done it since it was rebuild I suspect that a lifter may be leaking, valve stem height is to low. Or has a different length pushrod in it, to short. Push rods come in + or -0.050" lengths. Lifters have little ball checks in them, it doesn't take much to prevent them from holding.
