The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Can you clean a sticky lifter.

You should be able to make a perfectly satisfactory inspection of the cam lobes through the lifter holes, removing the pan while not technically difficult, is kind of a pain, and would be better left to the absolutely neccesary category in my opinion. That being said this could possibly turn into a can of worms. I went to get the head done on my truck (valves ground, new guides etc.) turned out the head had cracks, chunks were missing out of lifters, and cam lobes neccesitating a cam change, that is when I discovered you have to remove the pan to take the timing gear cover off. Which turned out to be a good thing as there was an incredible amount of crud lodged in it. You will have to make a judgement call of your own on that one.