232 lifter clatter.

I,ve got a noisy lifter after my rebuild.
The engine was completely overhauled except for the cam and hydraulic lifters, and it's running like a dream except for the noisy lifter.
With SAE 40 oil, it tends to be better, but still noisy. With 20W-50 it's a bit worse.
This leaves me to believe that I've got too much leakdown on one of them?

Now the question. How much noise is too much, and what damage can be done by leaving it as is. I don,t want to strip the motor again unless
absolutely nesassarry. When I turn up the idle a little bit it is a little better.

Any comments would be appreciated.
Okkie.

 

You sure you have the right parts? It should not make any noise if the parts are all new.

You can measure the lifter preload. Here's an article from Crane on how to do it - http://www.cranecams.com/pdf-tech-tips/hydro-lift.pdf

How much oil pressure do you have at hot idle?

 

Cam & lifters NOT new. Agreed on checking preload. Pull valve cover, make sure you're torquing each rocket arm with valve completey closed. There should be a small amount of play in the rocker arm when torqued. Start the motor with tgw valve cover off. Be careful of splashing oil. Observe oil at least draping out of each pushrod and through the lifter. Observe travel of each pushrod. Put you hand on each lifter. If you can stop the noise by pressing down on the rod side of the lifter, that's your problem valve. Double check (triple check) prepossessing on that lifter. Check for broken or compressed spring, then replace the lifter. NOTE TO SELF: Next time I rebuild a motor, spring for a new cam and lifters.

Bill

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

Thanks for the info. I will check all of the above.
Can any damage occur with the clatter?

Yes, that "NOTE TO SELF" is duly noted! Very cross with myself at the moment for doing that:evil:, but still enjoying my Jeep everyday.
I'm taking the CJ6 to the dunes for a fun day sponsored by an local club next weekend, and looking forward to it!

Thanks for the advice so far.

 

Did you put the same lifters back in the same location on the camshaft? Once they are used, they cannot be moved around. They wear-in to the cam, and you will ruin the cam if you put them in another location. This could also be responsible for an increase in lifter clatter.

Did you reuse the original pushrods? And did you put them back in the same place? If you reuse the valve train parts, they need to go back in the same location.

 

Well, that is the one thing I'm not sure about.
I have asked the shop who overhauled the motor to pay attention to the parts going back in the same position as they came out,
as I did my homework on that part. If they did that, is anyones guess, so that might be part.... or all of the reason for my problem.

I can see new parts coming my way pretty soon then!

I have reused the pushrods, cam and lifters, so lets see what happens.

Wednesday we did the 1000mile service, and I had a look at the cam and rocker arms. Wear looked pretty much normal, but I guess time will tell.

Thanks again for the info, and if there is anything else I should look out for, please let me know.
Off to a camping weekend for a wedding!


Enjoy the weekend!

 

I'd do the preload measurement procedure. All you need is a scribe and a ruler. If the preload is right, the cam lobes are not flat, and you have a clatter, then one or more lifters must be worn out.

 

When I had clatter after my rebuild under similar conditions (although I had a new cam) I purchased new lifter push rods and it went away. They're cheap and plentiful here in the states.

Oh, I also changed out the bridges to a new design and got rid of the original aluminum.

 

Remember he's in South Africa. Still surprised?

 

interesting quandry...cam and lifters are heart of any engine
who rebuilds engine and doesn't replace the cam and lifters ?
cam and lifters special aftermarket or new before the rebuild ?
easiest to replace would be rockers, pivots and push rods..after that ????????