Hgpilot

Interesting. I might try some diesel oil for a bit before the next change. Then some HPR 30 looks like the go.

Ok fair enough. I will give this oil a bit of a run through and flush it again and put some heavier weight stuff in.

Just some 10w-30 Castrol stuff I think it was. Not sure, the old oil did the same though.

Yeah ok I will look into that. Dad is the one who told me to rip the head off and replace all the lifters. I might ask him again and see if he has ever pulled one out without taking the head off. He said he could tell me every thing about a holden 253 but he only ever had to fix 1 falcon in his short time as a mechanic because they never break.

Ok, I'm curious now on how you get the lifters out without taking the head off. Because it really is only one lifter tapping. The rest are all pumped up nicely. But like you said it might come good. In fact, I started yesterday and the oil pressure came straight up too 40+psi (much better than the 20 or less it did have) and there was basically no taping. But, when it heats up a bit, the oil pressure comes back down and starts tick fording again.

Yeah not sure I can be bothered now. You would have to take the head off I'm assuming? I might still do it yet but would probably just get a whole set of lifters. Yeah the oil has been in there at least 15 years and only ever ran cold basically. Not to mention the thermost housing and water pump were rusted out.

Haha Tick Ford, that's good. Unfortunately this Tick Ford doesn't have any more power. Yeah he reckons it's the all gunked up. The oil that was in it was horrible sludge. We ran eninge flush and new oil hoping to free the lifter. My oil pressure is much better now (I have a gauge) so who knows, it may come good.

Yeah my Ute is running really well now apart from the clacking. The transmission is still doing some funny things though. I might need to start another topic lol.

Haha true

That's a good point. Not sure how the intake rod didn't fall out. Still might!

Alright, update! Dad came over and we pulled the 2 lifters and rods out. Both rods were straight so we put them back in and fired it up. It runs! No pop! Revs up and idles no problem!. The exhaust lifter is working like a new one. The intake lifter on cyl 4 on the other hand is still a bit loose and tapy. Dad thought that with an engine flush and some new oil the rod might pump back up. Put new oil in and had engine flush along with some liquimoli lifter juice stuff but still lifter taps. I think I should have just put a second hand lifter in like you said deankdx. Anyway thanks for your help guys! It's going pretty well now because of the advice I have got here. I will no doubt be back with more questions soon. Thanks!

I hope you guys are wrong. I have already thrown $250 in leads, plugs, thermostat housing, water pump, and starter motor. I'm holding onto hope because I found the rod out of the lifter completely just floating around. I should know by tomorrow. Thanks!

Yeah that's what I thought, but no they are all touching. Some are just pushing the spring down more than others. Yeah dad is a Bush mechanic alright, he will probably look for a straight enough stick to put in there!

Yeah no others have any play at all. The exhaust rod was disconnected at the top. I pulled the whole rod out and it looked straight. The intake rod I think may be off at the bottom. My father is coming over tomorrow and he used to be a mechanic so I'm going to get him to check it out. I am happy with temporary fixes as this is only a temporary engine in this car until I can afford a 351! (So probably in there forever)

Thanks, I pulled the rocker cover off (didn't unclip the throttle cable though :/) and sure enough I have a loose intake push rod and the exhaust rod is not even connected! Check this out! (ignore my noisy kids)