1983 firebird 305 100,000+ miles(odometer doesn’t work)
Bought this from an older guy, he drove it back from Florida to ontario Canada in 2000 ish and hasn’t driven it much since. Maybe 5000 miles. After doing all the plugs and wires, I now hear it has a little bit of a lifter tick. (Couldn’t hear it before, all I could hear was air rushing out of the cylinders from the loose spark plugs). The guy who owned this was not mechanically inclined, and took it in to be serviced.

What’s the likelyhood pulling The valve cover and setting the preload with it running will help? I Had another 83 for a short ish period of time (was rotted and I used as a winter car for a couple months) with 150,000 miles on it, bone stock and 5 spd that I beat the **** out of and it runs the same as this, but it didn’t have any ticking.

I don’t think it’s the fuel pump it sounds more driver side, I pulled the fan belt off (left the power steering) and it’s not that.

Thoughts? Leave it and just drive it?

Thanks again.


https://youtu.be/5ktKyB2suXs

 

This has worked for me on several, older, used cars I bought.

Change oil and filter, using the correct oil. Substitute Rislone for 1 quart of new oil. If the noise persists, repeat after a couple thousand miles. It SLOWLY cleans lifters and internal engine parts.

https://rislone.com/products/maximum...ine-treatment/

 

Do ^^^^ this first.





If that doesn't fix the problem, you stand a good chance of correcting it by relashing the valves. Get a pair of new valve cover gaskets, and have at it.

 

ATF was a popular fix for this at the Chevy dealer I worked at. Change oil and filter, 4 qts. oil, 1 qt. ATF. Not many fluids that clean as well as ATF.

 

I’ve got a valve cover that’s already been setup for “running” lash adjustment. Welcome to borrow if you’re in the Hamilton On area.

 

That too, I have done Qt. ATF, but consider Rislone to be lower risk to seals, bearings. Did GM authorize ATF?

 

I suspect not. Just something the techs pulled out of their bag of tricks.

 

There really isn't anything in atf that isn't offered in modern oil aside from possibly a reduction in viscosity depending on the oil selected.

 

Don't forget the red dye...

 

And extra detergent and maybe a little bit of friction modifier.

 

Diesel and atf are mostly the same for parts cleaners. Diesel lubricates better. When I was going through training for Cummins engines I learned you can run Diesel engines on atf but you have to put at least 10 percent Diesel in with it because atf won't lubricate the injectors enough.

 

I've heard of the old ATF trick myself. Old timers claim it works..

 

Update, not a lifter noise, might be an exhaust leak but sounds more mechanical than an exhaust leak. I’m going to choose to ignore it as I have other more important things to fix on it.