The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop lifter chatter

Hello I have a 1946 with the original 216 . The engine runs prefect starts right up doesn't smoke, about 10- 12 lbs oil pressure when warmed up and cruising down the road. I think I can say it has the usual lifter chatter most of the time, but on sometimes while driving the noise will disappear and it gets so quiet that I wonder if my engine is still running. When this happens it may run like that for a few miles or 50 mile's and then return. I check my oil pressure gauge when this happen's and it's still at the 10-12 lbs. Should I be concerned or what should I look for.
Thanks very much for any input. Kevin

My old 216's valves chattered even after setting them to spec. Didn't matter hot or cold they'd let me know the engine was doing it's thing.

Saw a post somewhere, here no doubt, where someone pointed out how the rocker tips would wear a trough where they contacted the valve stems and this trough could be a couple thousands or more deep. What would happen when setting your valve clearance was the feeler gauge was reading the surface that didn't contact the stems and not where it was wore in. So basically one would be adding a couple more thousands or more of clearance to the settings.

To correct the issue, take both rocker shafts off and take a couple pic's of how the rockers line up then remove the rockers and dress the tips up to where the surface is smooth and even, retaining the radius while doing so, do not make the tip perfectly flat or you'll never get them quiet.

I did this and my 216 never ran quieter.

Another poster that I don't recall either, LOL, said he ground down a set of feeler gauges so they would fit into the wore spot to measure the actual clearance. I'd say thats doable too.

This could be your problem.
Good luck
Dave

I was just reading a post by Dragsix in this forum under 1961 291 remanufactured, he mentions a company in Califofnia that will rebuild your rocker assemblies. You might want to look into this if it's an on going issue.

I would be more concerned about when the noise disappears than when it is there. No noise means no clearance, which can lead to burnt valves due to the valves not being closed all of the way.

If you get to the point of taking off the rocker arm assembly: check to see if the mating surface on the rocker arms are warn. If they are, a quick fix might be to grind/polish those mating surfaces.

Re-install rocker arm assembly
cold-set the gaps
start and warm up the engine
Turn off the engine after warm-up
Set the valve lash - if you do have a technique for adjusting the warm valve-lash, ask.
People here have a few good and easy techniques.

Even if this does not quickly/easily solve the problem, you will at least have your rocker arms ready to go, after moving on to deeper diagnoses.

Well, you know, heat does expand metal. I would assume that since adjustments are to be made at operating temps, that the clearance values take expansion into account. Maybe recheck right after it heats up/quiets down. Maybe make sure motor is staying relatively cool. No exhaust leaks or fan/radiator/water pump flow problems. Depends on what you see on the temp gauge. If temp gauge is accurate.

Noise, then no noise, then noise..... seems like a heat issue. Down hill, up hill, down hill or Intermittent water flow. Thermostat. Air bubbles. Failing pump. Oil flow

The old Sioux valve grinding machines had an optional accessory for resurfacing rocker arm tips. It held the rocker square with the grinding wheel and the fixture was adjusted to match the radius of the tip. Once the fixture was set up properly all the rockers could be reground in a matter of a few minutes. Chances are that the shop that was mentioned that "reconditions" rockers is using a fixture like that and making an outrageous profit doing what us oldtimers did as a matter of routine on every valve job we did.
Jerry

Thanks everyone sounds like I'll take a look at the rocker arms for wear and see if there is a bit off wear. Another winter project

Response to 52 Carl if what you say is happening would I notice the engine start to run rough because all the valves not closing properly? The truck has no lose of power when this happens and no difference from when there chattering.

Response to bartamos the truck runs at 160 all the time once up to temp.

Thanks again for your comment s and suggestion s
Kevin

Not only do notches get worn in the rocker tips but the bushings and shafts wear. If they've run any length of time without oil to the rockers because of sludge or whatever they wear and will set up a hell of a clatter. If you adjust the valves hot and running and your feelers come out unscathed then the tips are probably OK. I have some really mangled feelers from bad rockers. Hopefully someone sells new shafts and rebushed and faced rockers. I haven't paid attention in recent years. But before you make the investment in reconditioned rockers make sure that the oil passages to the rockers are clear. You should see oil spurt from the little holes in the rockers a minute or so after startup. Sooner is better.

You will only notice a difference in performance if the the valves are set way too tight. You could still get burnt valves from slightly too tight valve settings without noticing a difference in performance. A dollar bill placed against the tailpipe is a good way to check too tight valve setting. The dollar bill will momentarily get sucked against the tailpipe when a valve isn't closing completely.

I ll give the the bill test a try tomorrow, will a $5.00 bill work we don't have dollar Bill's in Canada. I'll check the oil to the rockers also thx Kevin

Yah, I don't think that a Loonie will do the job. Be careful if its cold out, eh. I read somewhere that your plastic bills snap in two in the cold. Gotanysnow yet?