I got the 302 in my parts '65 Ranchero running yesterday after a 14 year slumber...stuck a Predator carb and Weiand stealth intake on it and it fired up on the first try - I couldn't believe it. I changed the oil and poured oil all over the rocker arms before firing it up, but it seems like the lifters were kinda noisy. This is on a r/b motor with low miles on it, there wasn't hardly any sludge buildup on the heads. The car had a leaky drain plug so I am ***uming the engine was close to dry for a good while. It seemed like they quieted down a bit after running a few miniutes. Do you think they were just dry and will be fine or should I put a cam/lifters and springs in just for good measure?
What year motor? Some were solid lifter...I got a 85 Lincoln with a new motor at an auction like that. Made a hell of a noise when it started, thats why I got it cheap. Ran it, it went away.. My neighbor bought the car, 4 years ago. Absolutely no problems at all. I see it every day. But you shouldnt start it dry...squirt some oil in the cylinders, and crank it by hand to wet things down, then crank it with the coil wire off till you get oil pressure... then fire away.. But I guess you already started it, hopefully you did that.... Get it hot, change the oil and drive it...it may clear up.. if not check the rockers, to make sure they are all right..
Drive that motor a couple weeks then if still noisy add some Marvel Mystery oil. sometimes they will quieten down on their own and sometimes a little help is all it takes.....-SHOULD be fine.
It looks to be a late 60s/early 70s motor by the "Powered by Ford" valve covers, larger size plugs, and fuel pump with the screw on filter. It also has a points setup distributor. I didn't get any #s offa it. Currently it's at home on the engine stand. I am going to put a gasket set in it and there is a good bit of surface rust on the outside as the car it came out of sat outside for 15 years. It's for my brother's Falcon and he is determined to put one of those Edelbrock cam/lifter/spring kits in it. I just was trying to figure how necessary it really is and maybe try to save him a few dollars. Thanks.
And if all that advice does'nt work I would change the valve springs and lifters, they don't cost that much. After sitting that long with a load on the springs they weaken and will let out a sound like a rattle at certain rpm. And the only small block Ford that used solid lifters was the 289 Hi-Perf and I don't think you have one of those.
It will be fine. Run some MMO in it with your next oil change. Seen this happen a few times with engines that sit. Should clear up on its own. If not, new lifters are easy...
Without priming the oiling system prior to start-up, the lifters will take a bit of time to get proper prime. In some cases, damage will occur and they will never work correctly. I'd run it for a week or two and see what happens.
I use the lifters as a guide to when I can drive off. My car does 400 to 1000km per week, motors still running sweet after 15 years
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