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Ticking lifter

Richard Cranium

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I have a slight lifter tick on the left bank on my 383, but is there a sure fire way to determine which lifter is ticking?

Thanks in advance.
 
I would pull the valve cover and dam up the bottom of the head so oil won’t get on the exhaust and fire it up and look and see if you can tell which one is not pumping up. Cardboard works pretty good for the dam.
 
I have a slight lifter tick on the left bank on my 383, but is there a sure fire way to determine which lifter is ticking?

Thanks in advance.
Remove the cover. Position some rags to control the oil splash. Start it on a low idle. You can hold a wood hammer handle on each rocker and might find the one. Or take a feeler gauge and insert it between the rocker and valve tip. Most will not let a gauge slide in but the loose one will and you will immediately hear the tick change in pitch.
 
^^^^^this, put pressure on it, you'll notice the sound change. Observe any erratic push rod movements. From outside, a stethoscope will get you close to begin with.
 
He just needs to turn up the volume on the hearing aids.:thumbsup:
Or buy one of these Snap On tools lifter listening devices.

ear tool.jpg
 
Next time you start it, it probably won't be ticking. Sitting will collapse a few lifters and they might stick. Give it a day and it might pop back out.
 
I had a lifter tick, figured it would be best to pull the valve covers and intake. Good thing I did cause there was no way the lifter was going to pump itself back up.
 
Sometimes a big burst of rpm will fix a ticking lifter. The increased oil pressure dislodges the debris under the seat.
 
Try a half bottle of Marvel Mystery oil. It shut up a tick on my 383. Might work for you.

Good advice. I'll try this first. If no success, then this will be plan B.

Remove the cover. Position some rags to control the oil splash. Start it on a low idle. You can hold a wood hammer handle on each rocker and might find the one. Or take a feeler gauge and insert it between the rocker and valve tip. Most will not let a gauge slide in but the loose one will and you will immediately hear the tick change in pitch.



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