FE rocker adjustment and it still ticks - now what

[Danr55]

What is the valve overlap on the cam? If you have significant overlap, the exhaust valve is open and the intake valve is also open. Could you be setting your valve adjustment at the wrong time?

[byron w]

Sounds like valve guides to me.

Byron

[Jerry Clayton]

You don't restrict the oil to stock rockers----if they are stock ford rockers, run them like ford built it--no restriction!!!!!

also, if adjusting rockers on a stock type rocker with solid flat tappets, rockers worn at the valve tip contact point will result in an over sized clearance and be noisy at idle---

rockers can be reground on about any quality valve grinder

[priobe]

I second Patrickt with the oil pressure.

However, you better add enough qts to equal 11 1/2 qts or you will be in the bottom end sooner than you think if your running a Avvid pan.

[Grubby]

I actually have a Canton oil pan - I typed incorrectly. My system is the same as Patricks and he confirmed 8.5 quarts as does the ERA manual.

I have a very mild cam. My confidence is high the rockers are adjusted correctly.

My lifters are flat tappet hydraulic.

The well known engine builder put the restrictors in and the rockers are indeed OEM style. I can't confirm they are Ford manufactured or not.

This weekend I confirmed my oil pressure gauge is accurate and installed the factory type oil filter and disconnected the oil cooler and remote filter. That did not increase pressure or decrease the tick.

I added an additional 1 quart of oil before putting things back. No change.

The remote filter and oil cooler are now hooked back up.

Next step is to put in 8.5 quarts of heavier oil to see it that helps. I am leaning towards 10w-40. I should have time to stop for oil on Tue and test run it.

John

[Jerry Clayton]

Take out the restrictors----builders put those in anticipating that you will have needle bearing rocker componets and not need the extra oil so they restrict it so the bottom end gets more.

I assume since you have stock rocker assemblies that you also have the oil drian back trays under the rocker stands???

[ted]

Regarding the clicking noise, check your valve springs for shiny wear spots on the inner dampers. There's a good chance the noise you're hearing is due to the inner spring working against the outer spring. In most instances, this is due to 'crooked' or 'leaned over' outer springs.

[Grubby]

It seems this thread stimulated good discussions about FE oil pressure. Two completely different schools of thought.

I changed oil and put in 10w-40. No change.

Removing the oil restrictors would not help my tick. Wouldn't that allow more oil flow to the top end and less to the lifters. If the tick is lifters then the noise may get worse.

The tick certainly sounds like lifters. Loose rockers or spring contact should be present all the time, not just when hot.

If the OE rockers were showing signs of blueing then I would say the restrictors need removed.

I plan to pull one of the rocker covers and inspect one more time and see if there are any signs of contacts or other issues.

Are FE valve trains noiser than other engines?

John

[Rick Parker]

Do you have springs between the rockers on the shaft or solid tube type spacers. Considering the oil for a moment, perhaps the reason it becomes more audible after getting warm is that the oil becomes thinner and thus provides less cushion combined with dimensions increasing from the heat. I say check the bushing in the rockers.

[FWB]

have you determined it actually is in the valve train and not a spring or rocker coming in contact with the valve cover? any marks on the inside of the covers?

put up some cardboard dams on the head and run it with the covers off to see

[FWB]

post a pic or two if the rockers......

[Grubby]

No evidence of contact with valve covers.

It is very hard to tell if the sound is lifter lash or something else in the valve train. I suspect a loose rocker arm would sound identical to excessive rocker clearance.

If I though a new rocker setup would fix this, I would do it.

Pictures attached.

John

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Grubby

No evidence of contact with valve covers.

It is very hard to tell if the sound is lifter lash or something else in the valve train. I suspect a loose rocker arm would sound identical to excessive rocker clearance.

It's a little messy, but idling the car with a cover off and carefully touching your mechanic's stethoscope to each rocker arm will quickly tell you which one(s) are creating the noise.

[Rick Parker]

After looking at your pictures, check the surfaces in the holes where the pushrods pass through the heads. Maybe when the engine heats up and expands the pushrods begin to contact the surface within the hole .??

[FWB]

prolly not rick....the FE's look that way, with aftermarket pushrods maybe but it looks like he has the factory 5/16 solid pushrods.

if his cam is over .575 lift they could be rubbing the bottom of the hole at max lift, with the side springs on the shaft yet, it could cause some weird noises if it jockies the rocker over.......

i still would opt to run her with the cover off to see what is happening.

try a side at a time with cardboard bent and bolted down with the valve cover bolts, most of the oil will be held in check by the drip trays.....


fred

[lovehamr]

For the old "VC off and run the engine thing" I'd get a cheap rocker cover and cut a long opening in the top about 2" wide. This will allow you to see and hear everything but keep most of the splashing contained. That is if you don't rev it to high........Don't ask how I know that.

[Grubby]

Lovehamr - you read my mind. I still have some rocker covers with holes cut from my Chevy days. It made adjusting rockers much cleaner and easier.

I will swing by a junk yard this week and pick up an old 360 rocker cover.

John

[FWB]

i have to ask, because it hasn't been mentioned, and john i'm not trying to insult your diagnostics or anything but....are we sure its not a header flange leak that sounds like a tick, i know the oil pressure reading is making us look at different stuff....

[Jerry Clayton]

John---

I don't know exactly what your click sounds like, but-----I have been dealing with these FE engines since 1958, of many confiqurations-----If you wany to get rid of the click---you got to have more oil to the rocker assys--they used to run a line from the oil pressure fitting up under the valve cover to supply extra oil to the rockers because of clicking----the old oils would sludge up in the passages and not oil the top end so it was easier to bypass oil up there than diassemble engine for cleanout----I also asked if you had the drainback trays???

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

John---

I don't know exactly what your click sounds like, but...

Jerry's point is a good one. John, does your engine sound less than/more than/ or equal to the clackety noise of my engine (which you can hear below)?