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2nd Gen Ram Tech1994-2001 Rams: This section is for TECHNICAL discussions only, that involve the 1994 through 2001 Rams. For any non-tech discussions, please direct your attention to the "General discussion/NON-tech" sub sections.
I bit late here but I wanted to correct myself on this one.. Depending on the head gasket you use, you MAY have to pull the head to replace a lifter(s). This also means dropping the exhaust y pipe and pulling exhaust manifold off as well (or perhaps pulling if together with the head as a single unit but that is a bit of a nut-buster to lift yourself).
Well, I just went through this process to replace a couple of lifters the other day. I have used the FEL-PRO #9898PT on the last couple of Magnum V8 builds and the problem is the gasket extends out beyond the block to where the pushrods are mounted and provides a set of "guide holes". These interfere if you try to pull the lifters out of their bore with the head gasket still in place. See attached pics... I suppose you might cut away this part of the gasket around the guide holes because I'm not certain it provides any structural support to the gasket itself sandwiched between the block and the head but be aware it is tough material. I tried to cut it with side cutters (after removal) and it is tough stuff.
Very interesting! i honestly feel like i might have read about this before. I have yet to do any lifters as the weather has been crappy but this is good info. I also have those same headgaskets installed.
Ya well ... not quite the outcome I was hoping for. After replacing the lifters, she's still ticking. [img alt=""]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img] But the ticking is intermittent. For example, yesterday morning I started it up and was ticking badly and quite loudly and didn't damping after a few seconds as it often does. Later that day, I ran it and no ticking what so ever. Same as the day before. WTF?!
I pulled the valve cover off and watched and listened to the odd-side rockers on startup. Lot's of oil pooling on the low side of the rockers beforehand - evidence that at least oil is getting there - and I watched it flow up from the pushrods. The rockers moved as expected with no unusual vibration or sound. In fact, it confirmed to me the sound is coming from elsewhere in the drivers front upper corner of the engine bay.
As an interesting aside, I was surprised that on a cold start idle it took between 12-25 seconds for oil to begin flowing out the top of the pushrods across the entire valvetrain. I'm seeing > 60 psi on my oil gauge. I would have thought you'd see oil out the pushrods in 1-3 seconds. Regardless, I am leaning now to the opinion that this sound has nothing to do with the valvetrain.
I pulled the a/c compressor out of the circuit with a short serpentine belt (wondering if a bad bearing was the cause); no change.
My current working theory is that this is an exhaust leak - which often sounds like a lifter tick - so I torqued the exhaust manifold bolts a bit more (on a new gasket) but nada. I'm wondering if there is a crack on the body of the manifold somewhere but there's no exhaust evidence on the side of the motor that I can see to confirm this but I may pull it off anyway (easy job) and inspect it more thoroughly. I wanna say I can smell exhaust in the engine bay but not certain (it was windy).
I'm running out of ideas but I think I'll end this thread here (pending any final comments) as the original premise - bad lifters - no longer applies. I'll post another thread if I can get any traction on other fronts.
Ya well ... not quite the outcome I was hoping for. After replacing the lifters, she's still ticking. [img alt=""]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img] But the ticking is intermittent. For example, yesterday morning I started it up and was ticking badly and quite loudly and didn't damping after a few seconds as it often does. Later that day, I ran it and no ticking what so ever. Same as the day before. WTF?!
I pulled the valve cover off and watched and listened to the odd-side rockers on startup. Lot's of oil pooling on the low side of the rockers beforehand - evidence that at least oil is getting there - and I watched it flow up from the pushrods. The rockers moved as expected with no unusual vibration or sound. In fact, it confirmed to me the sound is coming from elsewhere in the drivers front upper corner of the engine bay.
As an interesting aside, I was surprised that on a cold start idle it took between 12-25 seconds for oil to begin flowing out the top of the pushrods across the entire valvetrain. I'm seeing > 60 psi on my oil gauge. I would have thought you'd see oil out the pushrods in 1-3 seconds. Regardless, I am leaning now to the opinion that this sound has nothing to do with the valvetrain.
I pulled the a/c compressor out of the circuit with a short serpentine belt (wondering if a bad bearing was the cause); no change.
My current working theory is that this is an exhaust leak - which often sounds like a lifter tick - so I torqued the exhaust manifold bolts a bit more (on a new gasket) but nada. I'm wondering if there is a crack on the body of the manifold somewhere but there's no exhaust evidence on the side of the motor that I can see to confirm this but I may pull it off anyway (easy job) and inspect it more thoroughly. I wanna say I can smell exhaust in the engine bay but not certain (it was windy).
I'm running out of ideas but I think I'll end this thread here (pending any final comments) as the original premise - bad lifters - no longer applies. I'll post another thread if I can get any traction on other fronts.
oh dang! Sorry I posted this to the wrong thread. I have another one going I intended to post it at:
"]data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7[/img] But the ticking is intermittent. For example, yesterday morning I started it up and was ticking badly and quite loudly and didn't damping after a few seconds as it often does. Later that day, I ran it and no ticking what so ever. Same as the day before. WTF?!
