Hey guys! first time posting here, ive used your forums for research for awhile now.. but im trying to further my grease monkey skills into the topend of my 351m. the previous owner told me it was rebuilt into a 400. its a 77 4x4 f150 shortbox with a performer intake, afb 625 carb, and i just recently switched to msd ignition!

*My problem is.. after the msd installation i started hearing a light tapping noise from under my valve covers. i pull the valve covers off and notice that my pedastel type non adjustable rocker arm (5th cyl exhaust) is hitting my pcv valve oil shield on the valve cover. so i was advised to pound it out with a hammer or double up my gaskets.. i do both and eliminate the grinding of metal on my pcv oil shield. but!! i still have a light tapping noise.. i can put my finger in the pcv hole and feel the shield where it was hitting.. it is no longer hitting it, ive inspected the rocker arms, rods, valve's and everything looks uniform (only with valve covers removed). i havent pulled off the intake yet.. im wondering what might of caused this to happen. do i need to dig in deeper? rod's fit into the nipple's on the arms. could a rod possibly extend further? im trying to do the work myself and save some money. ive got plenty of time. any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

do a compression test on all cylinder for fun and check your timing. what is the millage on that engine.

 

ok, so im back again! I've figured out the previous top end knocking on her!.. i temporarily double'd up the gaskets to calm the noise down.. then after breaking my exhaust off while driving.. i decided to upgrade to headers since i was stuck having to fix my exhaust. in the process i broke off an exhaust manifold bolt off inside my head.. easy out broke as well so i ripped the stock heads off braught em in to a machine shop who inserted my new valve stem seals (all were damaged a bit) and repaired my broken bolt without having to re-tap for only 40$.. not bad. valves looked decent still.. except the #5 exhaust.. found out the end of it had some knicks in it and was the reason it was making my rocker arm hit my oil splash shield, he re surfaced it for free. i also did some mild port and polishing, just some minor cleaning. motor mounts needed to be swapped as well. just got some 2.25in flowmasters ran off some long tube flowtech headers into mufflers. all is going well.. except that its taken me 4 tries at trying to seal my edelbrock performer 400 intake.. with/without endseals.. loads of silicone.. valley pan gasket.. aftermarket gasket(non pan with exh crossover shields) each time i keep failing.. (any suggestions) i hear tack the endseals then try..? also.. i decide to take the doubled up valve cover gasket off to see if the previous tapping noise has vanished.. sure enough its gone.. but the bad news now is the other side is tapping lol.. im fairly certain its a hydraulic lifter.. rods look good rocker arms too.. everything torque'd to spec.. im thinking about buying new lifters.. possibly a cam and lifter set.. non roller. wondering suggestions on what to go with. i hardly ever go on the freeway. its normally city streets and offroading.. some towing.. daily driven. i usually dont go over 5000-5500 rpms. possibly thinking about switching to roller rockers.. can i do this without a roller cam/lifters? (possible upgrade to roller cam/lifter kit later down the road.) shoot me with some suggestions! im not sure my cam size thats installed now. thanks ya'll in advance love the site!

 

ok, ive found my top end noise problem, after multiple failure's on my intake gasket, and the new top end noise.. ive finally ripped into her again.. this time i notice my #2 cyl intake valve's rocker has loosened up, after recently double checking installation specs.. this time the rod completely came out of the nipple on the rocker arm. fortunately it wasnt ran much so no significant bending or damage has been done.. after further inspection the keeper clip on the lifter was bent.. so i decide to pull the lifter and inspect further.. i notice a concave crowning on the lifter i havnt pulled my cam out yet or checked other lifters, but the bore's that the lifter sits in look/feel ok.. i can pop my head in and look at the cam lobe a bit and dont see anything visually.. but with a concave lifter i know there is a problem with my cam. i talk to my ford buddy and he suggests a cam/lifter set for me.. im wondering if this is going to be a good choice for what im looking for. im not sure on all the specs of what im running..

*but as far as i know this is what i got and what im looking for: 351m previous owner says rebuilt to 400.. unknown mileage.. k&n to a carter afb 625cfm comp series 4v carb and 4v edelbrock performer 400 series non-egr intake.. followed by (stock?) D5AE code 2v heads with mild port and polishing(cleaning) only to the intake/exhaust ports. flowtech long tube thermal coated headers 1.625 tubes to 3" collectors to 2.25" flowtech pipes all the way back to flowtech mufflers & tips exiting out behind rear wheels.. im running flat top pistons and what i assume is stock 400 compression.. ran with full MSD6al box non vacuum adv dizzy(factory curve) wires coil all msd. 4sp manual tranny on 33" swampers with 3.50 gears in 9" rear and dana 44rs front..

*this is a daily driver, but hardly a freeway runner.. im usually on city streets.. muddin/rock crawlin or mild towing.. my ford buddy suggested the edelbrock performer-plus hydraulic cam #2172 {Dur at .050" lift- int: 204deg exh: 214deg, lift at valve- Int: .484" exh .510" Centerlines- 112deg lobe}(cam/lifter kit which suggests for warranty issues.. their sure seat valve springs/reteainers or OEM springs retainers) to match the performer intake along with edelbrock performer true-rolling timing chain set #7821.. buddy told me stock rod sizes should be good.. does this sound about right? i trust him.. but a 2nd opinion wouldnt hurt.. and is this gonna be noticeable upgrade for what im looking for before i install? am i missing any info ya'll might need to help me decide if this is what i want for my applications? what kind of HP/Torque would i be looking at assuming all of the above? thanks in advance for any info/comments.. everything i know ive had to learn myself with some help off forums and friends.. this wench i name Elmyra (tiny toons) have a lot of sedimental value.. what can i say.. im in love. (as far as the intake gasket.. think ill finally conquer that beast this time.. tach glue'in end seals and felpro performance gasket and The Right stuff aresol gasket sealer.. precision intake seating/torque specing.. with tach time)