1989 Lifter issue

[Evan D]

I finally started the car this morning. Started beautifully. I'm very happy because I never had done this before. Recap: I blew the head gasket and had the head rebuilt. I hear a tapping/clicking sound which I think is one of the lifters. How do I trouble shoot/repair? The head was completely rebuilt by a professional.

[Frank Reiner]

1989 Lifter issue

1989 What?

[Evan D]

300SE

[Sugar Bear]

Could be a spark/arcing noise, an exhaust leak, belt noise or valvetrain. Try to listen to locate the noise by holding a rubber hose to points on the engine and to your ear. Don't let the far end hit the rotating fan! It will be a deafening racket...been there.

We're the lifters replaced, if not did they make noise before pulling the cylinder head?

When the rockers were torqued in place was each respective cam lobe on its base circle vs. high spot? These engines sometimes pull out the rocker arm assembly threads into head. There was a modification to slightly longer bolts to prevent this. A rocker assembly may have pulled loose.

Last step would be to pull the valve cover and feel for a rocker arm with excess valve clearance when the cam is on that rockers base circle indicating either a problem with the rocker arm bolts or the lifter.

Was every small disc/puck on top of the valve definitely reinstalled?

[Evan D]

I am happy to report that the clicking sound went away. I guess the oil had to move around sufficiently enough to lube the hydraulic lifters. After 4 months of tear down and rebuild all went well and the car runs smoothly. Only issue is the at the odometer is not working. Speedometer is fine. Small potatoes after this job. Many thanks to all of the Pelican Parts forum contributors who assisted by answering the questions that I had. It helped tremendously.

[Sugar Bear]

Great news, drive on!