Lifter noise

[MelroseMopar]

I have 69 superbee w a 75 motor home 440. Its stock other than rpm intake and 750 edelbrock. Car is a 4 speed has 3.55s, It had dead miss when I bought it turned out it had slipped out a push rod. (i am thinking over rev). Everything back in place it runs ok but with lifter noise. Investigate ... bent push rod. replaced push rod. Less noise but it is still there, more prominent after running and fully warmed up. Question is would it damage cup on lifter? Bend rocker arm? This is a driver and I drive the snot out it. Not overly hard but alot. Building a stroker motor this winter and want to just get through 2 more months of driving time. I have another set of lifters (used but only 350 miles on them) should I just replace the one lifter or "Long as I am there" replace them all? Or replace with all new lifters? I have another rocker as well.. anybody ever bent one? Thanks in advance.

 

[F4R/T]

Lifters should always be kept with the cam they came from never mid match or move them once used always keep in order. It would hurt though to swap rocker arm and push rods with known like components, in search of quieting it down. I’m sure others may offer more advice...

 

[Nate S]

I’ve seen and heard of a few 440s that have popped out or bent pushrods, one was mine. The problems weren’t apparent but I can assure you they don’t just pop out. There’s a reason one way or another. If you have lifter noise (singular tick) it could be the one that was damaged by the events you describe, I’d replace that one. If it’s the whole bunch (sounds like rhoads lifters) better check your oil pressure. It’s possible the same thing happened and one of the lifters came out of its sleeve and is dumping tons of oil out.

Keep digging.

 

[66Satellite47]

Did this happen while you were driving? hopefully the lifter didn't pop out. Had that happen with my 426W at the strip, rocker backed off, lifter popped out, didn't notice no oil pressure, seized the motor on the return road. Switching lifters may not last long.

 

[grtflred]

Check the push rod cups in the stock rocker arms. I have punched out several over the years. Look fine until you look close. In the old days we called 440 push rods rev limiters. Bent a few dozen over the years. New 512 has roller rockers and Smith Bro. push rods!!!

 

[Bee1971]

The few times I bent a pushrod

Over rev or

I kissed pistons / valves on those bent pushrods

Pull the lifter , inspect the face for damage

And with the bad lifter it took out the corresponding camshaft lobe

 

[biomedtechguy]

I had a lifter get noisy early on when I got my Roadrunner. The shifter was a bucket of mismatched crap, and I missed a shift.
It pumped back up w/in a minute.
The next time I overrevved it collapsed and was done.
Replaced the shifter with the correct Hurst Competition Plus unit, and all 16 lifters, springs, locks, retainers, and pushrods.
Assembled like all new parts, did 15-20 minutes at 2,200-2,400 RPM "cam break in" even though I kept the cam.
My reward?
The 440 6bbl that used to fall on its face right when it started getting interesting, around 5,200 RPMs, now and still DEMANDS that I let it rip, up to 6,200 RPMs, pulling like a freight train the whole way!
My springs were worn out, pressure down both open and closed, and once I put the new parts w/springs on, well-I love the way my engine pulls, and if I wasn't such a power crazed animal, it would be more than enough for anyone.