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I have a strange problem with the lifter(s), when the engine gets hot the exhaust lifter of the 4th cilinder left bank starts ticking. If you leave it running idle for some minutes the ticking noise disapears. If you drive te car ticking comes back. When i pull the valvecovers there is free play on the rocker of that cilinder. The rest is firm. So the previos owner replaced all 16 lifters (Sealed power HT951) just recently. Oil pressure is good, 20w50 oil in it.
It;s a '73 Cutlass 350, the foto shows the rocker hitting the rocker arm pivot.
Could it be a bad new lifter? Any experience or advice?
Even though the lifters were replaced were the pushrods replaced? It's a slippery slope because if it's a high mileage engine it also probably needs a new timing chain.
Even though the lifters were replaced were the pushrods replaced? It's a slippery slope because if it's a high mileage engine it also probably needs a new timing chain.
A single push rod was replaced (not from that cilinder) because it was slightly bend.
How do you relate the ticking lifter/rocker to an streched timing chain? I'm learning here :-)
A sloppy timing set changes valve timing. The other serious issue is the factory nylon coated cam gear which flakes apart right into the oil pump pickup. Those rocker arms do wear out as well and may need replaced.
So I pulled the intake manifold today and this what I found.... One retainerclip got loose. Strange thing is that is not from the lifter that made all the noise! How can this happen? Is it poore quality?
The lifters that were installed were from Sealed Power, is that a good brand? Shoot I replace them with different brand? Like Melling? Pls advice.
Last edited by HbTps; Oct 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM.
Reason: Edit
Generally, 20W50 should silence valve train noise. I wouldn't recommend going heavier in the crankcase.
That's surprising that the retainers already came out of 2 lifters. Like I said, this problem is a slippery slope. If only the lifters have been replaced you could also replace the pushrods and rocker arms, not to mention the timing chain/gears and cam. Would you be willing to do all that work on a high mileage engine? What about the bottom end?
So removed the rockers and there is quite a lot of wear on some of the rocker arms. Camshaft inspected, no excessive wear visualy. I'm going to replace the lifter, pushrods, rockerarms and see what I end up with.
So removed the rockers and there is quite a lot of wear on some of the rocker arms. Camshaft inspected, no excessive wear visualy. I'm going to replace the lifter, pushrods, rockerarms and see what I end up with.
That is a rocker arm stand/bridge !!!!! Replace them all. They are junk.
Last edited by OLDSter Ralph; Oct 9, 2025 at 12:06 PM.
A single push rod was replaced (not from that cilinder) because it was slightly bend.
How do you relate the ticking lifter/rocker to an streched timing chain? I'm learning here :-)
the ticking is from excessive clearance in your valve train from worn out rocker bridges/arms. you also popped out the retainer clip because the lifter cup was at its max travel and constantly smashing against the clip…they can’t take that kind of pounding ,,so they pop out.
when there is excessive clearance, the lifter pumps up to its maximum height, doing what it’s suppose to do…take up the clearance when parts wear …and that’s it, it can’t go any further.
replacing the worn rockers and bridges should fix the clearance problem. you don’t have to replace the lifter that popped the clips. put the clips back in and run it.you need a minimum of .030” lifter cup depression. anything less will probably be a ticking lifter in a few thousand miles again
Last edited by CANADIANOLDS; Oct 9, 2025 at 06:31 PM.
Thnx for all the replys. So I replaced the valve train. New lifters (just to be sure, I follow your'e reasoning @CANADIANOLDS but I found it a risk not to replace them) push rods, rockers and rocker stand bridges (thnx @OLDSter Ralph for the correct name). Ans all of the parts from the same manufactuer Melling.
Run it all in and took it for some milleage. No ticking sounds anymore! Have to see what it will do in the long run but this is allready positive. Normaly I would have heard the ticking noise allready so good vibes. Also some pictures of the new parts being installed.
