OK now I am really lost! please help!!

[Compufreek]

I know I have asked before but now I got new info. I rebuilt my topend two weeks ago and now my engine sounds like a sewing machine. I finally got a chance to pull the valve cover and listen to the rockers and valves but that is not where the noise is coming from. It is deeper. The only performance mod I did was shave the heads down 15 thou. Does anyone know what this could be. Some one has suggested lifters but is there anyway to check them with out pulling the intake manifold. Is it possible that the shave is causing problems with the lifters and the stock pushrods. Also I did this because of a intake gasket leak so is it possible that a lifter is stuck because or the gummed up oil/coolant that was in there. Any help would be much appriciated.

[geoffinbc]

Did you apply the right amount of last to the valves? How long was the engine running? You need to spin her up to about 2000RPM for about a minute and get the oil pressure up so the lifters will fill

[Compufreek]

I have got about 300 miles and the same noise. The rockers are set to the right torque. That is how these are set up from what I am told. This is why I have no idea what's going on other than a possible collapsed lifter. I just don't want to put the money into new lifters and find out that wasn't it. I did get a good price though, 60USD for the lifters and 50USD for the intake gasket set. Oh one more thing the intake valve on the 1st cylinder didn't seam to be getting much oil when I ran it without the valve cover. Is that also a sign of a lifter problem, all the rest were oozing oil.

[v6h.o.]

possible its a lifter. if it is, you can just get away with doing the one that is bad with it being a roller lifter. if it was a flat tappet cam well... you'd be looking at a cam/lifter set.

your going to have to take it apart to find out.

[Compufreek]

How can I tell if it is I mean I know which one I suspect but if there a way to tell visually that it is not working when I pull it. I figure if that is the case I am gonna just do all of them that way there all new and less prone to problems. Thanks man this is just really frustrating and I know what I am doing but still rusty/new to goin this deep into the motor.

[v6h.o.]

If it is as bad as a lifter has let loose or has given out, you should be able to tell which one it is, due to the excessive slack in the pushrod.

however yeah, i see where you are coming from regarding if you visibly see which one it the culprit..
hopefully you'll be able to pull the intake and it should be aparent which one it is.

[Compufreek]

OK what the hell at this point if I am gonna pull the intake to check the lifters I am gonna go ahead and replace them it is only $60 and that will be one less thing to worry about going later. I do tend to be a little rough on the engine Is there anything else that I may want to check while I am in there again?

[geoffinbc]

You never said what engine it was so that is why I said check the preload.. If they are 1993, 3100 or later heads then there is no preload to set. You just torque them to spec.

[Compufreek]

Sorry man I forgot to mention, the motor is a 3100.

[Compufreek]

Would any one know where to get lifters. I checked Autozones site and they were supposed to have them for 20 bucks for a set of 4 Hi Tech Hydraulic lifters but when I called the store the said they couldn't get them. From what I can tell the price is way off. Any suggestions...

[Cliff8928]

Lifters for a 3100 are more like 20 bucks each..

Cliff Scott
89 BerettaGT
89 Volvo740

[geoffinbc]

Lifters for a 3100 are more like 20 bucks each..

Cliff Scott
89 BerettaGT
89 Volvo740

Yea for sure. Be sure you are getting roller lifters. There is a BIG difference. And if you ever see lifters of any kind for $20 a set they are shit anyway so dont buy them.

[Compufreek]

Yeah I figured that out. http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ has them for $12 but I found remaned for $9. That is crazy and I wonder what they were talking about on the autozone site. Anyway I am getting them from www.stevensparts.com remaned and tested.

[bszopi]

I got a brand new set of roller lifters off ebay for like $25. Didn't have any use for them at the time, but figured it was a heck of a price. Then when I toasted several of the lifters during the 3400 top end swap, I was glad I had bought them and had a spare set right there ready to go in.

[Compufreek]

how'd you kill the lifters?