Thread: Noisy tappets after 3.5 rebuild, oil flow?

pull the rocker covers off and have a beta look to see if theres any oil getin up there if not reprime the oil pump then take to the rocker gear with an oil can full of new engin oil and give it a good coat then re start it and run it till ya get oil flow at the push rods as they are supose to have oil squirt up them from the lifters to lube the ends were they run in the rockers the rockers should have 2 small holes in em one at the push rod end and one at the valve end this is so the oil that flows up the pushrod runs down the rocker to the valve tip ...

Id run it with the rocker covers off till ya see the oil flow to be sure its lubing the top end right especialy if ya have new parts in there then clean the mess up once its all back together as id rather make a mess of the engin bay with oil than make a mess of the rocker gear from not having enough lube

Originally Posted by lokka

pull the rocker covers off and have a beta look to see if theres any oil getin up there if not reprime the oil pump then take to the rocker gear with an oil can full of new engin oil and give it a good coat then re start it and run it till ya get oil flow at the push rods as they are supose to have oil squirt up them from the lifters to lube the ends were they run in the rockers the rockers should have 2 small holes in em one at the push rod end and one at the valve end this is so the oil that flows up the pushrod runs down the rocker to the valve tip ...

Id run it with the rocker covers off till ya see the oil flow to be sure its lubing the top end right especialy if ya have new parts in there then clean the mess up once its all back together as id rather make a mess of the engin bay with oil than make a mess of the rocker gear from not having enough lube

Is ,nt the 3.5 supposed to lube thru the rocker gear as in oil comes up thru the block , i cant remember i dont think they lube thru the push rods as the push rods are solid its the 4.4 that lube thru the push rods

The head gaskets have holes that allow oil to be pumped to the head to the rocker gear
I wonder if the head gaskets are on wrong (but i dont think its possible) i stand corrected

Originally Posted by rangieman

Is ,nt the 3.5 supposed to lube thru the rocker gear as in oil comes up thru the block , i cant remember i dont think they lube thru the push rods as the push rods are solid its the 4.4 that lube thru the push rods

The head gaskets have holes that allow oil to be pumped to the head to the rocker gear
I wonder if the head gaskets are on wrong (but i dont think its possible) i stand corrected

Yes, the push rods are solid. I checked the head gaskets very well and they are identical both ways. The manual says have "TOP" to the top. All good in theory, but what if it doesn't say TOP .

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Yes, the push rods are solid. I checked the head gaskets very well and they are identical both ways. The manual says have "TOP" to the top. All good in theory, but what if it doesn't say TOP .

Make sure the gasket lines up with all the holes in the block and dont block any holes

Originally Posted by rangieman

Make sure the gasket lines up with all the holes in the block and dont block any holes

Can't see how it can't be right. They sit on the dowels to line it up, as does the head. Anyway the head bolts wouldn't go thru if it wasn't perfectly lined up. And, more to the point, i'm not taking the heads off unless i absolutely HAVE to.

Been reading old posts about rocker shaft oil holes blocked and wrong tappet preload causing noise. Maybe...

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Can't see how it can't be right. They sit on the dowels to line it up, as does the head. Anyway the head bolts wouldn't go thru if it wasn't perfectly lined up. And, more to the point, i'm not taking the heads off unless i absolutely HAVE to.

Been reading old posts about rocker shaft oil holes blocked and wrong tappet preload causing noise. Maybe...

Were the rockers noisey befor the rebuild it might be time to dissmantle the rocker shafts and clean , they manage to get a crusty build up inside the shafts

If you do this when you dissmantle the rocker gear make sure all parts go back on the right shaft and the correct position that they came off , dont mix them up

Originally Posted by rangieman

Were the rockers noisey befor the rebuild it might be time to dissmantle the rocker shafts and clean , they manage to get a crusty build up inside the shafts

If you do this when you dissmantle the rocker gear make sure all parts go back on the right shaft and the correct position that they came off , dont mix them up

Different heads, different rockers and shafts. All recently reco'ed. They look pretty good (better than the ones i took off ). Gotta admit i didn't really look at the oil flow holes in the shaft before putting them in, but as i say, they are the right way around. Didn't want to take them off again, cos i've given the borrowed torque wrench back...

Originally Posted by Bulldog

Different heads, different rockers and shafts. All recently reco'ed. They look pretty good (better than the ones i took off ). Gotta admit i didn't really look at the oil flow holes in the shaft before putting them in, but as i say, they are the right way around. Didn't want to take them off again, cos i've given the borrowed torque wrench back...

Well if you are sure and positive you have done every right
Id do as lokka said take off the rocker covers pour oil all over the rocker shafts and dont be too shy with the oil (maybe 500 ml max) but also note that all that oil will end up in your sump so you will have to drain the excess out
Good luck mate