Hmmm.... too bad I didn't know I should've let the new lifters sit in oil. The lifter guide plates seemed okay, and so did the rockers and pushrods.

The rocker arms for the valves that were closed had a little play - I could push them at a point just above the pushrod, making the lifter compress a little. They could also move sideways just a bit, which seemed a bit odd but I assumed it was normal.

I'm not sure it'* a ticking lifter, but I guessed it would be a good place to start.

About the lifters having to be pumped up - I suppose you mean that after the engine is running for a while, they get filled with oil. Can they be damaged if they're not already filled with oil before the engine is first started?

It runs pretty normally, with a loud tapping/ticking noise that varies with engine speed, and seems to be a metallic clunk coming from the area of the front valve cover. Idle is perhaps a little rough but not significantly so.

The valve guide is actually on the inside of the cylinder if I understand correctly... is there a way to test them after opening just the valve covers? I suppose replacing them means removing the heads... is this something I can do myself?

I'd appreciate any info

I just realized I wrote something that doesn't make sense at all about where the valve guides are. So, where are they exactly? can they be replaced? is it hard to replace them? should I replace them?

Thanks,

Yeah... I guess there is a first time for anything. It was my first time doing this kind of a job, so it'* no surprise I messed up a little

The engine is running like it has a slight miss, so it could be the case. It makes sense actually. I only let it run for a couple of minutes or so, so there'* still a chance no damage was done I hope. I haven't driven it with the new lifters yet.

What do you think I should do now? let it run for a while and see what happens, or do it all over again?

- Uri

Uri, there is a good chance that one or more of your lifters are trashed. I recommend soaking the lifters in Murphy'* Miracle Oil for 2-3 days before installing. It is a thinner oil that will work it'* way into the smallest crevice. It will also coat the lifter like a install lube and prevent what most likely has happened to you. If you are having a miss, get a stethoscope to find out which one. Let the engine come up to temp before checking. If it is going to go away, it will do so at temp when the oil is at it'* thinnest. You won't do any damage to your engine as long as you don't rev it. Shalom.