I was adjusting my roller rockers on the pass. side. Did all the intake and then the exhaust. I noticed that after I set the last exhaust rocker closest to the front of the car, I could push down with my thumb ontop of the rocker where the pushrod is and it would press down the lifter, kinda spongey or springy like. This is the only rocker on the pass. side I can do this to, the rest are firm and unable to push down on the lifter . Could this be a bad lifter. I can press down enough to make the roller tip come up off the valve tip. I still have to do the other side. Thanks for any ifno.

 

It is hydraulic lifters I assume. Could have just bled down and has no oil in that lifter to give any resitance.
When they are like that you need to be careful removing the lash. Some strong fingers turning the push rod on a dry lifter and you may turn the nut until the lifters spring is fully compressed.
Also look at the number of threads or height of the nut on the rockers. If they are all the same you should be pretty safe.

 

yeah they are hydraulic. I adjusted it like the other ones, trying to make sure not to overtighten it. Spun the pushrod till felt resistance and went another 1/2 turn and locked it down. I didn't take the up and down play out of that one when adjusting it since I'm able to push the lifter down by hand. Should I drive it a little bit and check it and see if it's any better? Will the lifter "pressurize" back up if it's bleed down, If it's not, does it need to be replaced a.s.a.p.? Will this hurt anything being like this or just cause a tapping noise?

 

You may just want to start it and if it does not tic then your should be ok. Might have just been as you're turning the motor over to adjust the oil got squeezed out of that one.
It might make for some oil to clean up but you can also try to unplug the coil power and crank the motor for a few seconds until you get oil pressure and then see if that lifter is still soft.
Don't forget once you get oil pressure its going to be built up in the rear lifters as it works it way forward so crank it a little more after you see pressure on the gauge.

 

Reviving an old thread since I have the same issue.

Mike, did you resolve this? What was the solution?

Thanks,
Jeff

 

This is normal and some lifter noise is normal with new lifters on initial start up. If the noise doesn't go away in a few minutes of idling, recheck the lifters.

 

Mine are stock lifters with 131K on them. Swapped to RR's and hardened P-rods. Now I have a severe clatter in the valvetrain. I was going through the EO/IO method of setting preload last night and noticed that all 7 on the one side were firm and this one offered no resistance on the nut while setting the 1/2 turn so I locked it an and then I noticed that I could depress the pushrod 1/8-1/4 inch meanwhile all the others were rock solid.

 

You most likely have a sticky check ball in that lifter. I assume you have the intake on the engine. You should really replace your lifters. I just swapped the brand new OE style I put in 22,000miles ago for Howard's. They are very nice and reasonably priced. Be sure to soak them in motor oil with the oil holes facing up for a day before installing them.

 

I also noticed that when I loosen the polylocks the oil flows up the p-rod freely, when I set the preload it flows very little.

I'm thinking about going with LS7 lifters. Damn, I hate tearing that TPI intake apart.

 

I noticed same thing at my lifters.It flows more after engine revs are +1500rpm.Does this mean bad lifter?