valve noise?

[mike657894]

How much valve noise is too much. At idle none. If I stand over the engine and rev it up to about 1300rpm its little clacky. Is this just the style of engine or am I in need of valve adjustment. I cant hear it in the car.

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

What cam? What lifters? Adjustable? What is the clearance now?

[mike657894]

havent opened it up. last time the car was worked on was 76 and it has original everything. It may have been rebuilt then. and i kinda assumed it wasnt adjustable. but may need part replacement.

[mike657894]

and by original I mean thread bare, rusty, and filled with mice bedding

[mike657894]

this may be what i was needing http://www.fordgarage.com/pages/ruleofnine.htm

[mike657894]

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since they are adjustable and they are making noise . I am going to go a head with they are way out of adjustment.

[Tom Wesenberg]

If the tappets have been changed, I hope they have the correct diameter foot. Some were made with a diameter small enough to allow the cam lobe to strike the edge of the lifter, rather than push up on the flat part, and this can wipe out the cam lobes.

[mike657894]

i have the side cover off and the intake and exhaust out of the way. not seeing how these are adjustble. number 4 is 023 thou. the rest are 15-16 on exhausts and 12-15 on intakes.

[mike657894]

and the parts are either original. or put on in a rebuild in the 60s or 70s. runs good. will the .023 valve clearance cause any problems other than running a little loud?

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by mike657894

and the parts are either original. or put on in a rebuild in the 60s or 70s. runs good. will the .023 valve clearance cause any problems other than running a little loud?

You could try a little lapping compound to seat the valve, but to close it down .008" won't happen with lapping compound. Does that cylinder have good compression? I was just wondering if a bit of carbon could be caught in the valve seat?

If you try lapping compound make sure it's all cleaned out when the job is done.

[Patrick L.]

If the lifters are original then it seems to me you have a lifter or cam lobe starting to wear out.

[mike657894]

yeah i think i will just leave it. I dug a ton of sludge out of the valve area so i pulled the pan and dug a ton of sludge and sand out of there. ordering a gasket kit and doing an oil change. its a driver.

[mike657894]

if i get the head off in the future ill lap that valve.

[Tom Wesenberg]

As long as you have the pan off, take a look at the cam lobe and tappet for that one valve. See if it shows any dishing in the tappet or noticeable wear on the lobe.