LA 318 Lifter Replacement/Recondition

[66Newport]

Looking to help a friend with an intermittent ticking lifter. This is a low mileage LA 318. The tick will go away for 100-200 miles then come back. It then disappears fairly quickly on warm up. At this point we would like to pull valve covers and take a look. I've searched threads high and low but there is some conflicting info I would like to get straight. I've been wrenching a long time but do not trust new parts. Otherwise I would just pull and replace but I have heard way too many nightmares with cam/lifter swap outs.

All that said-

If a lifter is found to be suspect, can it be opened up/soaked/cleaned out and reused? Some here say you should never disassemble a lifter.
If replacement is necessary, which brand can you recommend? NOS only in this case (if avail)?
I have always placed new lifters in an ATF-oil mix prior to install. Some here say to not pre oil lifters.
Have tried additives and condition remains very intermittent. No other noises heard when this is happening.

Any info would be greatly helpful. Thanks

 

[493 Mike]

You should be able to purchase a new lifter from a Dodge dealer. You can dunk the new lifter in oil before installation, just don't pump it up in the oil.
Mike

 

[R413]

What does low mileage mean? 30,000 on an original engine?or 2000 miles on a rebuilt engine? The age could have hardened oil inside lifters. Yes take them apart and clean. Wont hurt them. They need to go back together with same internals, ans on the same cam lobe, don't mix them.

Pre oil the engine with a drill will get the proper amount of oil inside the lifters, they don't run in ATF, so don't soak them in ATF.

 

[66Newport]

Thank you for the replies. To answer @R413, it is a stock motor with 70k miles on it.
Sounds straightforward more or less. Will follow up with results when I have them.

 

[OneWheelPeel]

The old factory service manual, at least the one for my 69 Dodge has steps for disassembling and cleaning.