Hey guys: In response to all the posts (thanks again) we found something in the lifter that looks like a wire bristle. In fact there were 2 of them. Took lifter apart and the bristles were up in them kinda coming out of one of the oil slits. Other than that the lifter looks perfect. In your opinion(s) could that be the cause of the ticking sound mentioned in the previous posts? Thanks for the help.
Take the lifter apart and clean it out and put back together and put it in a can of oil and work the plunger up and down with a blunt rod and see if it pumps up.
Usually when a lifter get stuck it makes a ticking sound, like nutajunka said put it in a can of oil or trans fluid
Is that "wire" a part of a hammered out lock ring? It's too thin to be one,,,,,or used to be one ,,is the keeper there?You need a new keeper in there after you do what NutaJunka said! That's if the groove isn't damaged. A new lifter is cheap insurance,,anyway grease the cam lobe too. I sand my lifters on gl*** with 600 grit and solvent in a crosshatch pattern to break the glaze.Then grease. That or a wire brush got you.
It's some sort of wire bristle. Lock ring is completely intact. Gonna put it in oil and pump up right after I eat this sandwich. See attaced photo, show lock ring.
O.K. put lifter in a can of oil and pumped it up. It seems to take oil but it I can bottom it out. I took out another lifter and did the same thing. This one won't bottom out - no way. In fact it is tougher to push it down. So the fact that the suspect lifter will bottom out, does it mean it's bad? Again, this is the one that had the wire bristles in it. Thanks, Kent
Those are new lifters you put in? If so,what brand? I don't know,lifters are fairly cheap but a pain to replace.You thinking to replace the whole set just to be sure?
Lifters have about 3000 miles on them. This engine a 1970 era 350 came from a guy's estate. He was gonna put in a street rod. Reputable guy. No junk. I can't answer what brand of lifters they are. But yeah Maybe should just buy a new set of 16.
IMO if that was my motor with wire bristles in it::: I would be thinking kinda like this that the bristles most likely came from a cleaning brush and lodged in an oil p***age, hiding in there just waiting to find a place to be stuck in. I would also bet the bristles have more of their bristle buddies in that motor waiting to do damage. or them bristles came from the new lifters, "new" does not mean good and without flaw any more.
If it were ME, and with the engine opened up, I'd put in a new set of lifters...or at least try the "bottom out" test and replace the ones that bottom out. +1 on the bristle brush theory...
Talk with your motor builder, bet he's got one layin about and he'd be tickeled to death to give it to you. Lots of different brands of lifters out there but only a couple people make them, i wouldn't worry about mixing.
I would check the oil filter. Cut it apart and see if any more wire was caught. Evidently someone cleaned parts with a drill powered wire brush. The newer ones are terrible about shedding wires. I have seen oil pumps lock up and destroy a motor from pieces of wire brush wires.
Dude, you can get a set of lifters for about 40 to 60 bucks.....cheap insurance.......while your wrenchin', pop off the pan make sure nothings in there, and check out your oil pump too......Also check your filter like Bobcrman said.........
The bristles are probably from the builder running cleaning brush thru the feed holes that feed the lifter bores...(they start at the front of the block right behind your cam gear)...on high milage engines....they clog up pretty bad if the oils been baked a few times...............or just from old age.......
Yeah logic prevails. I am gonna replace all the lifters. Thanks guys for all the input. Here's a pic of my '37 Ford (subject car)
Your car looks nice! I'd put a new set of lifters in it. Might tell the person who built the engine about the bristle's. His bore brush could be falling apart and not have a clue about it causing alot more engine problems.
Nutajunka, thanks for all the input. No idea on the engine builder, I got it from a middle man. Checked it out, looked fine. Who would have known 3400 miles later this would happen. Thanks man.
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