[Mike S]

I just fired up the fresh 400 a couple weeks ago. I used a summit 2801 cam and lifters. Cam break in went great. Have about 100 miles so far. Engine runs great, sounds like a stock cam. Oil pressure is 38 hot at 600rpm. Running 10-30 oil.
I noticed on start up after it sits for a few hours I get valve taps until the oil pressure comes up, maybe a few seconds. It sounds like the lifters bleed down after sitting a while. I never noticed this with the old 455, but did have louder mufflers.
What would cause this? Is there a one way valve in the oil filter that can be leaking? It is a wix filter 51258.

[77 TRASHCAN]

No valves in that filter.

[steve25]

What procedure did you use to adjust the valves?

One thing I would do with the motor cold is to pull off both valve covers, pull out all 8 plugs and bar the motor over to where each cylinder is at TDC and then note the play on paper in the feel of the valve adjustment.

Once you have found the loser ones I would make a card board oil sheild as in this photo, start the motor and then assuming you have poly locks for adjustors run the adjustment down / plunger down all the way and then bring it back up slowly so the lifter fills up and until you here a very light tick .

At that point go down 1 full turn and then lock the Allen down , but not before you have backed the adjustor off 1/4 turn from the full turn.

With Allen locked in place then bring the adjuster back to that one full turn down.

This type of adjustment will never back off.

Also note that when running the plunger down all the way if the ticking continues past two full turns down then you for sure have a bad lifter I would say.

[Mike S]

I adjusted them as follows, When ex valve begins to open I adjust the intake when the intake is almost closed I adjust the exhaust.
I am using poly locks. I spin the push rod till I feel a little resistants then I go half turn on the poly lock and tighten down.

[steve25]

You just plain may need more then 1/2 turn adjustment on some valves due to the particular variances in the valve installed height due to the valve job.

[77 TRASHCAN]

I was thinking 1/4 turn to start with....

[Mike S]

It has been 20 years since I adjusted a flat tappet cam. I just adjusted them to one full turn after 0 lash. We will see after it sits for a few hours on how noisy it is on start up. Lifters instructions where .020-,060 preload. I am using 7/16 studs and stock rocker arms.

[steve25]

With stock rocker arms and higher lift cams make sure your not running out of rocker stud slot length.
Not every stock rocker is stamped out exactly the same in this regard.

[chiphead]

My 2802 does something similar. On cold start, one lifter on the pass side will randomly clatter for about a minute or two. Then it shuts up and it's all good. HJ lifters, comp pushrods, crower enduro rockers, BBC studs, polylocks, the correct springs, good geometry. All pushrods spin and spurt plenty of oil. I've set and re-set the valves several times. Now I just let it warm up. eff it. I chalk it up to worn valve guides.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Mike S

It has been 20 years since I adjusted a flat tappet cam. I just adjusted them to one full turn after 0 lash. We will see after it sits for a few hours on how noisy it is on start up. Lifters instructions where .020-,060 preload. I am using 7/16 studs and stock rocker arms.

7/16-20 stud should give you about .050" preload with one full turn.
Aluminum heads ( if you have them) will reduce that number a bit when warm.

If lifter manufacture said .020-.060" preload you should be at a good place at .050"

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Formulajones

7/16-20 stud should give you about .050" preload with one full turn.

.050 at the ADJUSTER NUT.

More than that at the lifter, due to rocker ratio.



FIRST thing I'd do is to inspect that filter. The NAPA web-page for their equivalent does not specify that it has an anti-drainback valve, but the included photo (which may be generic) shows one.
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FIL1...pressionRank=2

If it does not have an anti-drainback valve, scrap that oil filter in favor of one with an anti-drainback valve. I think guys get obsessed with getting "perfect" lifter preload, when it's really not that critical.

[chuckies76ta]

The wix 51258 does have an anti drain back valve. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wix-51258
Preload on the Johnson Lifters is critical, form what I was told by the Johnson rep. https://johnsonlifters.com/Products/...ST2112OPR.aspx
A product from AC Delco called EOS engine oil supplement is a friend for hydraulic lifters. https://www.omgtr.ca/technical/ZDDT%...Supplement.htm

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Mike S

I used a summit 2801 cam and lifters.

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

Preload on the Johnson Lifters is critical, form what I was told by the Johnson rep. https://johnsonlifters.com/Products/...ST2112OPR.aspx

He almost certainly doesn't have SHORT TRAVEL LIFTERS, roller or otherwise.

If he does, he didn't mention it, but then he didn't post a part number for the lifters at all.

When I got stuck with short-travel lifters, plunger preload was about five thousandths, not ".020--.060".

Originally Posted by chuckies76ta

A product from AC Delco called EOS engine oil supplement is a friend for hydraulic lifters. https://www.omgtr.ca/technical/ZDDT%...Supplement.htm

Yes. A "high-pressure" lubricant additive, supposedly good for cam break-in of flat-tappet lifters. Unlikely to make any difference at all for noisy lifters.

[steve25]

The key thing here is that whatever valves are noisy cold are quite when warm.

What I would do at this point just for ****s and giggles is with the motor cold swap the push Rods and rockers and balls from known quite valves and see what gives on start up.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Schurkey

.050 at the ADJUSTER NUT.

More than that at the lifter, due to rocker ratio.



.

That's why I said "about" .050" and since the manufacture said he has a range of .020" to .060" he'll be just fine

We can get picky if you want, then I'd suggest breaking out the dial indicator to get things "spot on" but honestly it just shouldn't be necessary for what he's doing here.

[Mike S]

I took a chance and bought summit brand lifters with the summit cam. The valves didn't tap when cold or hot. They tapped when you first fire up the engine until oil pressure comes up (about a second or two) then they are quiet. It sounds like the oil drains out of the lifters and as soon as pressure came up it would fill them back up.

I had the poly locks 1/2 turn after 0 lash. I went one full turn after zero lash and no noise when I fire it up. Don't know why but it worked.

[FrankieT/A]

I would also look at the oil he is using....Maybe not enough film strength.

[chuckies76ta]

Originally Posted by Schurkey

.050 at the ADJUSTER NUT.


I think guys get obsessed with getting "perfect" lifter preload, when it's really not that critical.

I realized he doesn't have Johnson lifters. Was just making reference to your generalized statement.

When I got stuck with short-travel lifters, plunger preload was about five thousandths, not ".020--.060".

I never said anything about the amount of adjustment.

Yes. A "high-pressure" lubricant additive, supposedly good for cam break-in of flat-tappet lifters. Unlikely to make any difference at all for noisy lifters.

I need said anything about lifter type. That's your opinion.

[Tim Corcoran]

Try setting the preload at 1/2 turn and see if that helps. In my motor if preload is 3/4 turn they clatter a bit but with 1/2 turn they are perfectly quiet. If you have a filter with a check valve and you have tried 1/2 and 3/4 turn and still have the issue it may be your lifters are not up to the job. The best hyd flat tappet lifters made are the Hy-Lif Johnson's and you may want to upgrade to them.

[Greg Reid]

I'm totally familiar with setting preload one half turn, one full turn, etc. from zero lash but how do you measure preload in thousandths of an inch as some of you have mentioned? .050" for instance.