i have had a lifter tapping for as long as the engine has been in. it has about 2-3k miles on it. the lifters were all new but i can hear one tapping. could the tapping be just a bad lifter or something out of adjusment. i've tryed readjusting the rockers but it still wont go away.

 

You sure it's not a rocker? It usually is. I don't know how most guys check their rockers, and I';m sure that many will tell me this is a bad idea, but thats ok but here's how I was taught the easy way to adjust them - take off one of the valve coverss and jiggle the rockers sideways and up and down to see if they have much play in them, usually this helps you find which one is wrong, but even if not, here's the next step - be VERY careful - start the engine and one by one slowly undo a rocker stud nut until you hear a "new" tapping sound from the rocker, then tighten it slowly til it stops making the new sound, then go between 3/4 and 1.5 more turn. Do this for EVERY rocker and if you still have the sound, its something else. Again, I know this probably isn't the proper way to adjust the rockers but it works, and if you've already done this, I'm sorry, just making SURE it isnt a rocker cuz nothing sucks more than taking off that intake to find out your lifters are fine and a rocker was out of adjustment!

 

as long as you don't undo it enough that you find a pushrod being thrown at your face at a high rate of speed, it seems fine to me...

 

Do all of the rocker arms get tight?

 

i adjusted the rocker arms one more time and it is still tapping. i'm pretty sure its a lifter.

 

lol... ironic that we both have the same, or nearly the same cam, and problem. One of my rocker arms was reeeaallly loose and making alot of noise so i shrugged my shoulders and redid the lash. Ran good for about 10 mins. and it started to run like crap again. Sure enough, the clacking noise from that rocker arm came back. Which leaves only one conclusion that the rocker arm stud is pulling out of the head. Go back and see if any of your rocker arms are really loose. If your like me and you rev the engine alot during acceleration, one of the studs may be backing out.

edit: hmmm... do the 041's you have have pressed in studs or screw in, think their screw in so if thats the case then just disregard what i said.

 

I had the same problem on my car and it turned out to be a lifter. It sucks because that's what it is in the shop for now.

 

I had the same problem and it turns out...

My cam lope wiped completelly off. out. whatever.

the point is, its gone. i noticed the tick tick tick and re-adjusted the rockers. it was still there, grinding away at my cam.



im still waiting for the new cam to come in.

 

That first comment about having a pushrod thrown in your face is hilarious! You have to go WAY too far for that to happen, but there are plenty of idiots out there! Anyways, I should have thought to mention this since it happened to me lately, but like a guy said a few posts up - make sure it isnt your stud pulling out. If that's, it, you can tighten the rockers all you want, it will just pull the stud out further and make the sound again, so definitely check that.

 

went out to check mine and from the best i can tell, the most likely suspect is the bolt managed to back off and let the lash open up. Lobes still there and the stud hight measures within 2/1000ths of an inch of the two nearest studs. So, to change tack a bit, in additon to that, make sure the bolts arnt backing out on you.

 

i'm pretty sure its a lifter. it does it right after i readjust the rocker arms and keeps on doing it, and none of the arms were loose.

 

Are you sure a stud isn't pulling out tho

 

If you have dual valve springs or inner damper springs (flat wire) you might want to inspect those closely for cracks.

On the suspect valve(s), you might also want to pull the rocker arms and inspect the pivots closely. Also take a good look at the stud(s) to make sure the rocker slot isn't bottoming.

Another possibility is the push rod(s) is rubbing in the clearance hole in the head, creating drag and lash that the lifter cannot compensate for.

 

i don't think its a stud coming out. i replaced a lot of them on that side because they were worn on the sides of the studs and none of the rockers are loose. most likely its what vader said about the rubbing on the clearance hole. those ar a little worn but arnt too bad yet. i'm going to have to put screw in studs in and guide plates some time and i'l probably put new springs in when i have the heads off. it might be the valve springs but it sounds like its coming from somewhere from the clearance holes to the lifters. it could also be the pivots but it isn't a very high lift cam so i wouldn't think so. i'l have to check it out more closely with those things in mind.