Not again!

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I was driving my car today and went to start it leaving a parking lot and the car idled funny and then hunted a bit more than usual to find itself, it smelled pretty bad as well and kind of bogged down when I started moving. I took a quick peek under the hood but since it was so dark I couldn't notice anything out of the ordinary. It sounds similar to when I broke a valvespring, but not quite as loud. Its a ticking almost like a horrible exhaust leak and it fluctuates with the rpms. I'm hoping its not a spring seeing as they are only 3K miles old but my guess is the needle bearings in the rockers are going? Any guesses or suggestions?

[JoeliusZ28]

dang jeff that sucks

what kind of springs are you running?

[1BADAIR]

air tube break off?

[c0ncEpT]

air tube break off?

They are race style pacesetters. And I'm pretty sure he is running Patriot Duel's.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

yeah race style headers and they are patriot gold duals.

[Superman09]

damn Jeff, sorry to hear this! Im no good with diagnosing sounds but if you need a hand at all in fixing anything just give me a call and i'll get down there whenever im not working. Hopefully its something simple that can be fixed by pulling the valvecovers.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I'm gonna pull a valvecover tomorrow and see if I can't find anything out, it also could be a lifter.

[Superman09]

dont say that word! I was hoping you wouldnt even mention it

[DETROITMUSCLE]

is there any way to test if its a lifter with the heads on?

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I had to move the car today since its been sitting in the street and it seems to run just fine but there is definatly a ticking comming from the driver side head area as confirmed by a baseball bat held to my ear lol. Does anyone know any way to check for a bad lifter without pulling the head?

[SS4Matt]

never had to check for a bad lifter, but i would suggest pulling the valve cover off, pulling the rockers off and perhaps checking if any of the pushrods have little resistance to bleeding down, then maybe hand crank the motor over some to check the rest?

Francis had a few lifters blow to pieces last year. his car still ran but it sounded like marbles and gravel was just bouncing around under his hood

[DETROITMUSCLE]

see mine doesn't sounds bad at all, just a tapping noise. I read on tech that many guys have run some seafoam in there oil and that freed up the lifters for an easier fix. If I find no messed up pushrods or rocker arms I may try that.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

OK heres an update

Took off the valvecover today and no bent pushrods, loose rockers or broken springs. We turned the car over and heard nothing unusual at all. My best guess is a lifter so I'm gonna Seafoam the oil and see if its able to unstick it or not. Hopefully I won't run into any problems driving it.

[erk2581]

damn jeff! if its not one thing is the other...especially in the spring with you man! i dont live in shelby anymore but im only 40ish minutes away...if you need ANY help you know i know my way around cars, dont hesitate to call, especially with school being almost over i'll have free time after work...you s hould still have my number but if not PM me...hope you get it figured out buddy! didnt see you at all this winter man WTF?! haha

[DETROITMUSCLE]

when did you move Erik and to where? Do you still work out here or what?