vettfixr

The last time I changed the oil I found what looked like a piece of a small clip. I thought it looked like the clip that holds the top of a lifter in. Sure enough when I pulled the intake and took a look I found a lifter with a missing clip. I removed it and installed a clip from an older lifter that I had and all seems well so far. Has anyone had this problem and what could have caused it. I never had any tapping in the engine and it ran well. :confused:

Turbo-Jet

Did you test the plunger to see if it still floated? Maybe it was frozen or became twisted. If not, then I would say you were lucky. Sustained high rpm’s could have resulted in one of those ‘expensive mistakes cause by failure of a 1-cent part’.

I replaced the wire clips with internal snap rings when I installed new lifters. They are not subject to significant load, but assembly is much more repeatable and reliable.

vettfixr

i took the lifter apart and clreaned everything up although it wasn't very dirty. Once I reassembled it everything moved fine and it looked like it was OK. i guess I'll find out when I start it up. I agree with the snap clips. If I ever change out the cam I'll do that on the new lifters. Thanks for the reply.

yellow 72

That can happen when there isn't enough preload on the lifter and the plunger hammers the clip out :cheers:

vettfixr

That's what I thought. After I fixed the lifter I went through all the valves and reset them to between 1/2 and 3/4 turn from zero clearance. I'm hoping I won't have to visit this problem again.