I have some bad sounds coming from my valve train. I am trying to diagnose if it is a lifter problem or valve. Should I be able to give each pushrod a little "push" and it want to spring back? I can do this to most of the lifter except about 5 where they are solid and I cant push down on them at all.
Everything spins over fine when there are no rocker nuts on and then the moment I put them on there are spots where it is hard to turn the engine over and it makes sounds coming from the lifter area. Intake is on BTW....Brad

 

I'd try adjusting the valve train with the engine running and try to see if you can quiet any of the sound down. If you are successful yet the sound comes back you could have some bad lifters. If your valvetrain clatters loudly at startup and then eventually quiets down could be a lazy lifter. The pushing down of the lifters could suspect, however lifters do have a tendency to bleed down. Some quicker than others especially depending on spring pressures.

 

The motor is out of the car and I want to figure it out before I put it back in. I dont want to have to remove the intake in the car...or heads if I have a bent valve or something. Is there anything I can do to check to make sure my lifters and valves are ok?

 

Well gonna hope for the best. Gonna stick motor in and see how it goes! Is there a certain amount I should tighten the poly locks down to if I am gonna set lash while its running? I tightened them down as much as I could by hand and then set the locks.

 

Did you make sure the valves were closed on each cylinder when you did this initial tightening?

 

No but I can change what I have done. What is needed to be done exactly? Wouldnt they have to be closed or I couldnt tighten it by hand...meaning with my fingers and no tools. Brad

 

Let me refrase. Each cylinder should be at TDC compression stroke, before the polylocks are tightened.

http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#adjust_valves

 

Even if I am gonna adjust them while the engine is running? I dont even see where is has specific info on tightening the nuts before adjusting them with the engine running.

 

if its a lifter just put 1 quart of lucos oil in it it stopped the sound of my lifter that was bad and it works fine now

 

You have to do one of the non-running methods to first get them close. If you do the non-running method correctly, you should not even have to do it with it running.

 

adsgdfgdsfg

 

After my lifters have sat for a day I realize that the problem is that some of them will not pump up as now almost all of them are solid and have no give. It dont see how I can set the lash correctly if they are all not pumped up. I guess this time setting them will just be a trial until I can crank it and set them then. I hope none of them are to tight...if thats bad. Brad

 

Brad, why don't you see if someone local will help you with the valve adjustment. It sounds like you may a few bottomed out, and this could cause a big problem if you try to start the engine in this condition.

 

I am gonna re do it before I crank it. BTW-I had the nuts totally backed off and gone when I tried the pushing each one thing. I think that some of the lifters are just not pumping up. I am hoping that they will pump up once I crank it.