Able to check a lifter in the motor??

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Apr 2, 2013 | 04:40 PM

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Able to check a lifter in the motor??

I was curious if anyone has a way to check a lifter while it is in the vehicle? I recently broke a valve spring and not sure at what point in the run it broke (it ran fine until I let off) and I have developed a louder then normal valvetrain noise since. I pulled all the pushrods and checked them and swapped the rockers with a spare set I had and it is still there. It is also coming from the side of the broken spring. I looked in the hole of the heads and the lifters snap ring and plunger are still intact and the car is running fine minus the audible tick. I hate to pull a head and the lifter be fine. (Head studs and a/c still in the car makes it fun) They are morel link bars btw.

Apr 2, 2013 | 05:15 PM

torkls1

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I can't see any way to check your lifters over thoroughly without removing the heads.

Apr 2, 2013 | 05:59 PM

3rdCoastPowerSports

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Nope. Do you know why the spring broke?

Apr 2, 2013 | 06:10 PM

2000PewterT/A

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Removing the heads is the only way.

Apr 2, 2013 | 08:39 PM

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I dont KNOW why it broke a valve spring but it happened after a downshift which Im guessing it didnt like. The springs only had maybe 1000 miles on them and thats being generous. Guess Ill pull the heads. Yay.

Apr 2, 2013 | 10:43 PM

JakeFusion

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Well if the lifter has collapsed, you can tell while it's still in the car. Problem is, you have a broken valve spring. Might need to make sure the lifter hasn't turned in the bore and destroyed the camshaft.

Apr 2, 2013 | 10:46 PM

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Its a link bar lifter it wont turn in the bore. Oils good. No metal and nothing on the magnet. Just a little more noise. It sounds like a short pushrod.