I have a 65 mustang coupe with a 289hp and I think I have a lifter problem or at least thats what I've been told through Summit's tech advice. It sounds like a loud ticking sound. I'm going to check the lifters out but I don't know what I should be looking for as signs that a lifter has gone bad. What is an indication that a lifter has gone bad and what type of lifter should I replace them with. The heads are the originals, the cylinders have been bored so the engine is 302ci and an aftermarket cam is inside. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

Since you say you have an aftermarket camshaft, I am assuming the cam and lifters are faily new. Has the "zero lash" been set correctly and the rocker adjusting nuts tightened properly (1/2 to 3/4 turn) after zerol ash was established? Hydrulaic lifters rarely fail and can go 100,000+ miles easily. Proper adjustment is paramount.

 

If you have a HiPo 289, you should have mechanical lifters and not hydraulic ones. Hereby having a gap that is not zero.

Do you have the original mechanical lifters and hydraulic ones?? It will make a difference when diagnosing the problem.

Cheers.....[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

 

Yeah, don't quite know what he meant by a 289hp(?) If it is a Hipo it certainly would have a solid lifter cam, but he also referred to an aftermarket cam. So many people post stuff here and are very ambiguous. Solid or hydraulic, I would check the valve lash. Of course if it is a solid lifter cam, it's gonna make some tapping noises - that's what solid lifters gapped properly do.

 

Yes its a 289 HiPo, sorry about that. The noise has only come up within the last 3-5months and before that there has been zero noise from the engine. There has definitely been a drop in power since this came about. I purchased the car in 1998 with the engine the way it is now and haven't touched anything inside so I can't tell you what type of cam and lifters were installed. What do you mean by zero and valve lash? Sorry but this is m first project car and I'm learning as I go.

 

Here is a tech article you need to read. If not to learn how to adjust your valves, but also to learn the lingo. http://www.centuryperformance.com/valveadjustment.asp

 

I always thought the hydraulic lifters were 1 1/2 turns after you reach 0 lash?

 

1/2 turn

 

I think this weekend I will take a closer look at the lifters in the head and see for myself and out of curiosity. If a lifter is bad, what should I be looking for? and I'm betting they will be mechanical lifters. Anything else I should check?

 

If it is a Hipo with solid lifters, they need to be adjusted periodically (one of the drawbacks to solid lifters). The adjustment is critical to the performance and health of the engine. I had the same solid lifter Hipo cam in a coupe I once owned and I had to do the valves quite often. Need to know what you are doing here, but from all accounts, you are in serious need of adjustment.