Need help remove valve lifters

[TrickyT]

I need suggestions on how to remove the valve lifters on my 1989 3FE. I've got the rocker shaft assembly and push rod cover removed, but the lifters won't come out. The lifters move freely in the block, but when I try to pull them out I can't. This engine has 200K miles on it and there's a lot of varnish build up on everything. I suspect that there's a "lip" of varnish built up on the sides of the lifters where they stick down below the block casting that's preventing them from coming out. Any ideas? I could pull off the oil pan, but I don't think there's any way I'll be able to get to the bottom of the lifters with the camshaft in place, and I can't remove the cam with the lifters in. So I'm pretty baffled on how to proceed.

 

[FJ40Jim]

You are correct, there is a layer of lacquer on the bottom perimeter of the lifter that can make removal very difficult.

The cam can be rotated to push each lifter up to it's max lift, then grab the lifter w/ pliers and pull/wiggle it as high as possible. Do this w/ each lifter, then the cam will have clearance to be removed.

If cam removal is not the goal, the lifter can be removed by dropping the pan and hitting the bottom of the lifter w/ a long skinny punch. The cam and crank will need turned to access each of the lifters, but it is do-able w/ engine in situ.

 

[Mace]

You planning on reusing them? If not a pair of vicegrips works well..


I ended up using a small AL punch to tap mine out. I could get them far enough out to get to the oil holes...

Spark plug wire pliers would probably work as well..

The motor in the truck?

 

[TrickyT]

Yup, motor is in the truck. I had planned on reusing the lifters, if they're in good shape. Main goal at this stage was to inspect bottom of lifters for signs of wear, in particular #4 intake. I've been having to tighten down the adjuster on that valve approximately every 2,000 miles for the past year, and it's now to the point that there's not much thread left on the adjuster for the lock nut. Push rod and rocker arm look okay to my eye, so I wanted to look at the lifter. Didn't plan on this problem though.

 

[Mace]

Yup, motor is in the truck. I had planned on reusing the lifters, if they're in good shape. Main goal at this stage was to inspect bottom of lifters for signs of wear, in particular #4 intake. I've been having to tighten down the adjuster on that valve approximately every 2,000 miles for the past year, and it's now to the point that there's not much thread left on the adjuster for the lock nut. Push rod and rocker arm look okay to my eye, so I wanted to look at the lifter. Didn't plan on this problem though.

If you are chewing something that bad you won't be able to just replace the lifter...

 

[FJ40Jim]

If you are chewing something that bad you won't be able to just replace the lifter...

X2....
The cam lobe fails first, then the spalled lobe chews a divot in the bottom of the lifter.

With modern crap oil, the flat tappet cams are dying a quick death.

 

[Tinker]

Jim -

By "flat tappet" do you mean "solid lifter", & what else can we do with XF engines?

What oil should we be using?

 

[TrickyT]

If you are chewing something that bad you won't be able to just replace the lifter...

X2....
The cam lobe fails first, then the spalled lobe chews a divot in the bottom of the lifter.

Thanks for the advice. I checked the height of the valve stems today, and #4 intake is the same as the others. So I think I've eliminated everything that it could be other than the cam lobe and lifter.

Rather than tearing off the front of engine to get at the camshaft and removing the oil pan for access, I'm going to button it all back up and either wait until I have a whole lot more time available for this project or take it to someone and pay $$$.

I've always used quality oil and changed it on schedule. Guess my luck just ran out early on this engine.

 

[FJ40Jim]

No modern street legal oil is quality. The EPA demanded that all street certified oil remove the additives necessary for flat tappet cams a few years ago.

See this article.

And then google for more info on cam failure and ZDDP.
Enjoy!

 

[TrickyT]

No modern street legal oil is quality. The EPA demanded that all street certified oil remove the additives necessary for flat tappet cams a few years ago.

See this article.

And then google for more info on cam failure and ZDDP.
Enjoy!

Interesting reading. I was not aware of the decreased use of ZDDP additive in modern oil formulations. Still, I don't read much about camshaft failures here on Mud so I'm guessing it's still fairly rare.