Good day all,

My family has a '77 6.9 at their home in the Naples area and are having a problem with one of the lifters clicking. The shop they took it to ordered the shims and played with that for a bit but it seems that they really don't know much about 6.9's or have a desire to work on one so it seems.

So does anyone know someone in that area that is familar with 6.9's?

Thanks guys!

Ron

Steve Brotherton is in Gainesville. Check www.continentalimports.com
If he can not help you I am sure he will send you to somebody that can...

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J.H.
'86 300E

In the service manual there is a specific procedure and special tool that is used to check the lifter to see if has issues. Playing around with different shims won't help if the lifter is bad, or if the rocker arm has wear. I would suspect worn rocker arms versus a bad lifter, but you never know. The tool measures the height of the lifter and either gives it a + or a - value. I would be very leary of playing around with shim thickness. The M100 motor is very expensive, and the wrong shim could cause undue wear or burned valves. If this was my car I would remove it from this shop, and find someone who has experience with M100 motors. IMHO.

Call Steve...


For help.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

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Unfortunately Naples is about as far from me as one can get in Florida. The 6.9 is pretty much the same as the 4.5 in the way the the lifter preload is determined and adjusted. It really doesn't change though unless something is wore out.

It more likely has worn rockers or a bad lifter.

__________________
Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Well, my brother calls me up the other night and says he can't find the washer jug. We decided that after getting the bill the other day for $758.00 dollars and the lifter is still ticking he might as well drive the car back to Maine rather then fly and I'll straighten it out.

So back to the washers, he's got me on the phone and is out in the garage. I close my eyes for a second and think, how the hell can't he find the washer jug? I tell him over and over where it is and he says he still can't find it. Well, if you don't see it, its not there. Then he goes oh yeah, when I got the car home yesterday I went to check the oil and when I opened the hood the air cleaner was missing??????

758.00 dollars and they send the car out with no air cleaner, and now we also find out no washer jug! I told him it sounds like they never finished the car and you need to put off leaving until they check it. So he goes back yesterday and they locate the washer jug but it seems they can't find the bracket.

I run a small chevrolet dealership service dept in northern Maine and I can't believe this kind of crap happens in a place like that. I haven't been to this shop but it is described as just down the road from Mercedes of Naples and it isn't like small repair shops up here but more of like a little dealership. Nice new building, professional looking techs, which all used to work at the MB dealership at some point, this just blows my mind.

If I was down there I would go in there and tell the tech that worked on it he should have his F****** hands cut off, but of course it might not be his fault, maybe the service manager dropped the ball and had no clue the car was not actually finished in which case I would advise him to start doing his job correctly or find a new one. I'm just venting.

The car should be on the way home today or tomorrow and we'll see what the problem is when it gets here, I doubt it will be to serious. This is a beautiful '77, cream on the out side with brown leather 50k miles. My dad was the second owner and got the car from the estate of the previous owner who obviously passed away. Sadly my dad has now passed away and we'll have to do something with the car.

Once I get it straightened out I'll see if anyone here would like to buy it before I list it somewhere, we have 3 6.9's and really don't need that many lol.

If it fails on the road, you will have huge bills, or it will end up in a salvage yard.

I would suggest taking it to Steve Brotherton, Continental Imports, have it fixed, get a PPI, and sell it.
If it is as described, he may be able to find it a good home.

Contact data is in your PM box.

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

I doubt it is going to fail on the road, and even if it did the most it would cost to get the car back to Maine would be $1000.00 bucks if that much. As far as ending up in a salvage yard, it would be worth spending a little money on a 20k car I would think. The car is way north of florida already but thanks for the advice.

Where in Maine are you? I live in South Portland, Maine

I live in Camden and work in Dover-Foxcroft.