lifter, pushrod, aftermarket rocker clatterfest

[bohemianway]

I have an 87' GT freshly rebuilt engine by PO with unknown cam, unknown lifters, Stock 6.250" push rods, unknown Blue anodized custom roller rockers (5.0stang85 can fill in the information hopefully). The issue is that the top end clatters loudly but engine performs fine. On inspection I find that several have a clearance of 0.040" and some seem to vary all the way up to no clearance at all. Is there a simple way to check the individual lifters to verify they are pumping up or is there other possibilities that they were installed improperly? In a past life I recall sometimes 5.0s would occasionally rotate a roller lifter. Anyway, I am just looking for some thoughts on possible causes and diagnostic paths. I am just not excited about taking the intake manifold off. Another question is can the lifters be removed without taking the heads off?

Thanks for the help,
Charlie

[96zjlimited]

In on one.

[Turbohwagon]

I have an 87' GT freshly rebuilt engine by PO with unknown cam, unknown lifters, Stock 6.250" push rods, unknown Blue anodized custom roller rockers (5.0stang85 can fill in the information hopefully). The issue is that the top end clatters loudly but engine performs fine. On inspection I find that several have a clearance of 0.040" and some seem to vary all the way up to no clearance at all. Is there a simple way to check the individual lifters to verify they are pumping up or is there other possibilities that they were installed improperly? In a past life I recall sometimes 5.0s would occasionally rotate a roller lifter. Anyway, I am just looking for some thoughts on possible causes and diagnostic paths. I am just not excited about taking the intake manifold off. Another question is can the lifters be removed without taking the heads off?

Thanks for the help,
Charlie

Are you saying you have .040" of clearance between the valve stem and the rocker arm tip? You shouldn't have any if this is in fact a hydraulic roller engine. Are you familiar with how to adjust lifters on roller cam engines?

[bohemianway]

I have not done a roller lifter engine in decades and since this one was assembled I assumed it was completed. My impression was that these were nonadjustible, I will look this up unless someone posts the adjustment proceedure for me.

Thanks

[95 whitestang]

Normally on a 302 roller engine the valve lash would be non adjustable. Since you have unknown blue anodized roller rockers, all bets are off. We are going to need more info irc. pedestal mount or stud mount. Also you do not have to pull heads to replace lifters on a 302. Just the lower intake.

[TwistedMetal]

Adjustable pushrod time. (for measuring)

[mnstang]

Are the rockers mounted on a stud or bolted down?

You have noise because there is that .040 gap. If you have hydraulic lifters, you should never have any gap, the lifters are to be pre loaded.

If you have stud mounted rockers, this is very easy to adjust with just the valve covers off, but it needs to be done correctly.

[bohemianway]

They are pedestal mounted so they are really not adjustable. I will be taking the intake off and pulling the lifters to see if some are collapsed. Since most are snug I am beginning to suspect individual lifters. I have had to teardown everything due to the PO having mis-built everything. Thanks for the help and I will get back on what the real problem was.

[mnstang]

Check the pushrods on the affected cylinders, it is possible they could be bent, making them shorter than they should be.

[Notch]

Check the pushrods on the affected cylinders, it is possible they could be bent, making them shorter than they should be.

Joe m windchimes?

[bohemianway]

Problem solved. PO had installed 0.035" shims under the rockershaft saddles that I didn't see. After removal of these shims the bolts tightened 1/4 to 1 turn in after push rod snugged up.

Thanks for the help,