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Valve train question

STREETREBEL

STREETREBEL

Well-Known Member
Local time
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Location
Willard,Mo.
I bought a used 440 from a motor home.
Just got it started and it has a tick on the passenger side.
60lbs oil pressure. Rockers have fresh oil.
My question is.
I can push on the rockers that don't have pressure and they move about an
1/8 to a 1/4 inch toward the lifter. Maybe more if I was to push harder.
I never had a stock engine before, so I didn't know if that was normal.
I have crappy headers on it, so that might be the tick.
Should I have play in the rockers?
 
Hydraulic lifters just have a spring.pushing up on the pushrod. Your just pushing down on the spring cause there is no oil pressure...sounds normal to me.

I had a low milage RV 440 and had to replace the cam...it was going bad ..starting to flake out. Engine loved the cam upgrade.
 
pull each plug wire individually...... if it's a header leak you will find it
 
eldubb440 said:
pull each plug wire individually...... if it's a header leak you will find it
Click to expand...
I've never heard of that.....what would you see/hear when you pulled the plug for the cylinder with a leak?
 
STREETREBEL said:
I bought a used 440 from a motor home.
Just got it started and it has a tick on the passenger side.
60lbs oil pressure. Rockers have fresh oil.
My question is.
I can push on the rockers that don't have pressure and they move about an
1/8 to a 1/4 inch toward the lifter. Maybe more if I was to push harder.
I never had a stock engine before, so I didn't know if that was normal.
I have crappy headers on it, so that might be the tick.
Should I have play in the rockers?
Click to expand...
Totally normal. Yes, look for a small exhaust leak first. If that's not it, then VERY CAREFULLY use some motor flush (follow directions exactly or you can blow the engine) and change the oil. You might have some "smutz" in one of the lifter bleed holes. Also, maybe turn the engine over by hand and look for rockers that are flat-out loose barely touching them. You could have one worn rocker arm or slightly bent pushrod too, that's another possibility...but I'm still betting on an exhaust leak
 
Use a piece of hose 1/4"-3/8" held to your ear. Point the other end around the header tubes near the head. If there is a leak you will quickly find it. The noise will be amplified in the hose.
Doug
 
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