adjusting chevy 350 lifters with the engine running

I adjust some of my lifters with the engine running, then ramble on a while about how it didn't fix my noise problem and why.

[thud]

Man that fuel line and filter setup right over the headers is scary, that'd be the first thing I'd worry about.

[JPanyon]

My Chevy had a similar symptom. Redid the entire valve train, no change. Used a mechanic's stethoscope to trace the noise source. AHA! Noise was coming from the bell housing area at roughly the same height as the lifters. Turns out it was the bronze pilot bushing mounted in the block, which accepts the nose of the tranny input shaft. Replaced that bushing again after a thoroughly intensive cleanout of the bore hole it sits in. Lubed it up with a heavy duty moly grease, and FINALLY the "lifter" noise at rear of the block went away for good.

[johnmilner]

For noisy lifters use GM EOS Engine Oil Suppliment. In the 60’s and 70’s GM set customers lifters to 3/4 of a turn down after the clatter went away when your loosening the nut while the engine is running so customers would not come back complaining about noise. For Performace you want a 1/2 turn. You can increase oil pressure by going to 1 wt heavier oil. If you can’t push down on the rocker arm then you have solid lifters and need to be set them with a feeler gauge.

[jamesashlock]

Bye the way others are going to there local salvage and getting old valve covers. They are cutting the top of the covers and putting them on the car then make the adjust the valves from there. No mess 🤔😁

[ThomasL]

FYI I had a 93 GMC Sierra with a 350 and went all through it and still had a tick. Come to find out it was the power steering pump going out but the seal was not leaking. I changed it out and awesome no more tick. Was a mess but found it.

[mikegellner]

I have an old pair of valve covers that I cut the center out the full length !! NO MESS !!!

[zacharyheselton]

What I learned is loosen the nut all the way loose. Then twist the pushrod with your fingers and tighten down the nut until you feel a little bit of drag like the rocker and lifter is beginning to wheeze on the rod. Then you do a full half turn on nut with wrench, tighten Allen nut screw in till it touches, then grab both wrench and Allen and tighten together till tight

[mrwashur]

Just be glad you don’t have a tbi. The injectors are loud enough to hear in the cab. It’s almost impossible for me to locate another tick/knock I have..

[JohnDoe-wirf]

Chevy and gmc just have that tick no matter if it's a old 350 or a ls I would worry if I didn't hear that tick lol

[johndownward]

All GM SBC are adjusted 1 Full Turn according to Manufacturing specs.

[johngranato]

Connecting a vacuum gauge will also give you additional insight as you adjust the valves

[philiplochner]

Sad to see that you don't have the vacuum advance on your distributor connected up...

[wadehall]

Those hoodie sleeves were giving me anxiety, and then it got worse when I noticed you left sleeve was hanging down even more! 😂😂

[michaeljkowar]

Could it be your fuel pump, it also runs off the cam.

[JesusRodriguez-fccr]

Good crankshaft bearing is where good oil pressure comes from and when it comes to installing lifters if there not bleed deeped in oil and then installed you got a future problem

[farmerjim-fat-man-do]

I would be way more concerned with the low oil pressure than a ticking lifter. Main and or rod bearings are probably shot.

[sfordguy]

You have one of 3 issues, bad/weak oil pressure regulator spring if there is one at all, incorrect bearings: con rod bearings, main bearings or cam bushings which will cause that low oil pressure when hot at idle, last but not least a sticking or failing valve/lifter. Start with the lifter then, valves and if you need to pull the pan and check your con rod and main bearings for wear issues or too much bearing/oil clearance.

People that say the ticking is normal are absolutely incorrect, unless you have fuel injectors which ALL fuel injectors tick while firing. Always set your valves according to the manufacturers specifications, if a noise continues there is something that need correct adjustment or investigated for a correct repair.

Just because parts are new or a rebuild is just completed means nothing, parts are know to be faulty right out of the box or failed due to incorrect assembly or adjustment, PERIOD. The backyard mechanic or driveway mechanic way of doing things might work in some cases but, certainly always follow the manufacturers service manual for assembly, adjustment and repair. ANYTHING ELSE IS NEVER GOOD BUT OFTEN DONE OUT OF IGNORANCE TO CORRECT PROCEDURE AND SPECIFICATIONS.

[TheBmco]

Lol I like the cardboard method but that’s no way to adjust valves running tighten them up till it messes on each cylinder back them off. One have turned just tighten them up. You’ll hear it start to miss them back them up 1/2 turn there’s a perfect.

[mikecorleone]

Lol chevy.. i had similar issues with my 350 in my boat. The best way to make sure your lifters are good is to oil them up and test the preload before install. The other noise that could be confused for lifter tick is if your timing chain is loose or your distributor drive gear is wearing out.. on my bayliner 350 it was distributor gear luckily..

[JerradNelson]

Howdy from Boise man, thanks for the vid & info - will be trying this on my 78 El Camino