M103 rocker arms
 

I noticed a ticking noise in my engine when I start my engine, then it goes away. This noise isn't consistent, so it's sometimes there and sometimes not. Anyways, I removed the valve cover and noticed that the far left rocker arm (this is typically where I hear the ticking) has some slight horizontal play. Is this normal? If not is there a fix? Nothing was loose under the valve cover. Here is a video of the issue:https://youtu.be/jqpRtY8a_P0

Sounds like a lifter issue. The lifters are in the rocker arms but are replaceable separately.

To find horizontal movement is not unusual - it comes down to camshaft position and the amount of residual oil in the lifters. With time / worn lifters the oil seeps out faster.

See the FSM for the (oh so technical!) method of checking and comparing hydraulic lifters...

Use a thicker oil ..

Ismalley, as mentioned some of the hydraulic lifters lose oil pressure if the engine sits for an extended time between starts. A short time after start-up the oil pressure in the offending lifters is restored and the ticking noise stops. Try Mobil 1 15W50 in your engine. Factory fill in the 124 cars was 15W40 mineral oil.

I run 20w-50 in my car, but during the colder months (60*F) I run 10w-40. I've had my rocker arms off before, how hard is it to replace the lifters? When I did my valve stem seals I couldn't see how to remove them. Any special tools needed? Thanks guys.

Ismalley, in CA I don't see any reason not to use the same viscosity oil all year. If the temperature approached 0*F it may be worth switching to a lower viscosity oil, but certainly not at 60*F.

I removed them with a hammer and punch.
Buy new ones - they're cheap.
Careful not to lose the spacers under the lifters when removing.
Don't cross thread the threads in the head when removing the lifter assemblies - rotate the cams to take all pressure off the lifters.

I'm still not clear on how I would remove them. What am I hammering and punching? Also, on a side note, I haven't had the ticking since I posted this. As seen in the video, it was the rocker arm assembly that was sliding back and forth horizontal, but not much, maybe 2 mm max. Is there any harm with just leaving this issue alone or will it progress into something else if not remedied? I don't want to open up a can of worms if I don't have to. Thanks.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1651/...58417c1c_c.jpg
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1580/...25e4c349_c.jpg

If you grab the lifter after its been removed by the body - pressing down on the barrel - other end from the ball point - should reveal a spring inside. This spring fails. If this is the case a new lifter is required.
Be careful. When you press out the lifter you will find a flat round plate on the top - don't lose it.