Valve Lifter Tapping

[FORD8N]

Considering going to look at a Ford 2000 gas in a
few days. late 60's model. Question...
Owner states "Valve lifter tapping but quietens
after warm". Looking for pointers and what this
could mean. Is it just a problem that a little
valve adjustment is all that is needed? Or is this
a bad sound and going to cost alot to fix?
Thanks

 

[sotxbill]

could be a rod end, wrist pin, piston slap, or as said loose valve.

You need to listen to where it coming from and what it sounds like. How long is it take to go away, and is it only when really cold or every time you start it.

 

[Mike(NEOhio)]

I've adjusted my clearances and it always has a slight tappet noise.

 

[old]

I have always been told a big of tapper noise if better then non at all due to non can mean burned valves on an engine that does not have the pump up lifters. As for loud at fist then less that is normal and should be that way

 

[sotxbill]

in the machine shop, we had to reflatten the valve stem head and the rocker arm as part of a valve job. They would wear in a )) pattern so that when you put a feeler gauge in the curves would mean you were setting them much looser than the thickness of the gauge. Instead of setting 020.. your really setting it at 024 due to the rounded ends of the valve/rocker. )l) That's why often you set the valve lash but it still is noisy, due to excessive rounding of the ends.. So if noisy, we would go back and go one size thinner on the gauge and that alone would quiet it down.. ie using an 018 instead of a 020.

But again.. lots of people tell me it a tappet or valve noise when infact its a knock from a bearing or rod end... Even have hear the bell side due to a cracked piston.. So is it a knock, ring, clack. or tapping..