I have a tapping in the valve cover area on the drivers side of the truck. I'm thinking I must have a bad lifter (I call it a lifter anyway). Not sure what else could make the noise, any ideas?.

Has anyone replaced a lifter? Have instructions or pointers you can share? It doesn't seem like that big of a task but having never done it I could be surprised. Seems like with a spring compressor tool would make it easy. Anyone know where I can get one?

 

I don't think we have lifters

 

No lifters, but after looking at your sig. If you have regrounds cams in there you need to check your valve lash.
You probably need lash caps to adjust them properly.

Out of curiosity, what does your truck run in the 1/4mile?

Jason

 

I guess lifter isn't the real name. It's the fulcrum, or pivot point, for what I call the rocker. I've heard the rocker refered to as a follower too. Anyway the cam pushes on the rocker, one side has the valve and the other side has a "lifter".

I guess my Chevy pushrod engine experience is coming out in how I describe the L.

A lash cap may be the solution. I guess I won't know until I take everything apart. Just looking for pointers before I do.

Truck has run low 12s in some hot weather and full weight w/ 4lbs worth of pulleys. Looking for 11s w/ a bigger pulley, cold air, and some weight loss.

 

So know one works on their own trucks? Or just not on the heads.

If it is a lash cap anyone know where to find them?

 

The lifters(hyd lash adjusters) arent hard to get out, the rocker arms can be pried out, but there is a special tool to get them off. Ours at work breaks all the time, so we are used to getting them off with just a screwdriver. Ive never seen a 5.4 with different cams in it, so i dont know how they do the lash adjustments if the regular lifter doesnt do the job.

 

Sounds like you have plenty of motor knowledge, but are you sure it's not an injector? I've heard some that were pretty loud before.

Just a thought, WOT

 

Thanks for the replys. Hyd lash adjusters? I guess that is a better name than lifters .

I have a lot of carburated chevy motor knowledge. Rebuilt more big and small block Chevy engines than I would like to remember. However fuel injected cars with overhead cams are a different story. I didn't know an injector could make that loud of a noise. I guess I will put that on the list of things to check. The noise only happens once per engine cycle and sounds like it is coming right from the valve cover area. It's pretty loud. I hoped it was an exhaust leak and changed the gaskets last weekend but it didn't help.

 

Talk to Sal @ Powersurge 631-821-3622 If he doesn't have them, he can point you in the right direction to get lash caps. Discuss you problem with Sal. If i'm not mistaken, he has experience with them.

What are you waiting for. If you have a built block cal JohnnyLightning and order a 10pound lower pulley
Should knock some time off compared to the 4pound pulley.

Jason

 

I was all set to up the boost when this ticking thing started. Figure I should fix it first before doing anything else. Right now I am running an ASP 2lb upper and a PSP 2lb lower. Haven't decided on which lower pulley to upgrade to, was thinking at least a 6lb. Didn't know they made a 10lb, WOW.

 

You might want to check your spark plugs too. A few have had them come loose.

 

I vote for spark plugs too... the dealer replaced ALL of my lifters (rockers) and rollers and that obviously didn't keep the spark plug from divorcing the head in grand fashion.

 

Appreciate the suggestion. I will definitely check the plugs before I pull the valve cover.

 

Here's my plug saga, with pics of head off, etc.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...threadid=80538

Hopefully you'll find a loose plug and the tapping will go away.

 

Well I check the plugs. Suckers are in there pretty tight. Went ahead and pulled the valve cover since everything was half apart anyway. Nothing is obviously loose. I guess I will just go ahead and replace the "lifters" and see what happens.