Lifter replacement

Laine D

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I plan to pull my 6.9 apart again to do head gaskets, it’s leaking from the rear coolant port and beginning to bubble the coolant. I think that it was install error or something because its wasn’t really doing anything crazy with it, yada yada yada.

While I’m there I’d like to replace the lifters. Every morning it misses for 2-3 seconds as soon as it starts and makes that popping noise from the intake. I’m pretty sure it’s lifters, I’m not sure what else it would be as everything else has been gone through. What brand is good for lifters? Should I do new push rods at the same time? Should I upgrade valve springs? The engine is still fairly fresh from a rebuild with only 25-30k on it. It never effects how it runs, it just makes that popping noise at first
 

IDIBRONCO

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I would say that it sounds like an exhaust lifter to me. The internal spring is weak (or the lifter's sticky) and doesn't fully open the valve until it has full oil pressure. Going by your signature, it looks like you have a stock cam. If you do want to install new valve springs, install stock ones. I used Sealed Power brand lifters and I haven't had any issues with them. They've been fine for about 2 1/2 years and I'm running Comp 910 springs.
 

Laine D

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I would say that it sounds like an exhaust lifter to me. The internal spring is weak (or the lifter's sticky) and doesn't fully open the valve until it has full oil pressure. Going by your signature, it looks like you have a stock cam. If you do want to install new valve springs, install stock ones. I used Sealed Power brand lifters and I haven't had any issues with them. They've been fine for about 2 1/2 years and I'm running Comp 910 springs.
Thank you sir that’s the info I was looking for. And I probably should put better info in my sig. Everything is stock other than studs, turbo, and pump. :Thumbs Up
 

IDIBRONCO

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And I probably should put better info in my sig.
I figured that if you had a bigger cam in it, you would have put that in there.
These are what I call "one of the bigger brands". examples are Sealed Power, Melling, Clevite, and Perfect Circle. I don't hesitate to buy any of these brands. I'm sure that there's others that I forgot to mention so don't consider the above list exhaustive by any means.
 

Laine D

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I figured that if you had a bigger cam in it, you would have put that in there.
These are what I call "one of the bigger brands". examples are Sealed Power, Melling, Clevite, and Perfect Circle. I don't hesitate to buy any of these brands. I'm sure that there's others that I forgot to mention so don't consider the above list exhaustive by any means.

i just did some shopping and found a set from melling will be about 170$. Not complaining on the price, but then I got to thinking. The truck sat for 10 years without being ran. Although I rebuilt the engine I was under the impression that lifters will tell you when they are bad. So could there still
be some gunk or sludge or something in these lifters? I’d love to clean them out I just don’t really know how. I’d hate to spend all that money on something I could fix pretty simply
 

IDIBRONCO

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You may try something like Sea Foam or Auto Rx in your oil. Marvel Mystery Oil would be another one. One more thing to consider is that while it didn't run, there was still pressure on some of the lifters and valve springs. Those springs were being compressed the entire time unless the rocker arms were loose. They are probably weak. I hated to pay for new lifters after I'd just overhauled my engine, but afterwards, I was sure glad that I did. I'm not saying to order new lifters immediately. Just don't count on a miracle out of an oil additive.
 

OldIron82

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Glad I seen this thread! I’m just about to order a set myself!

About Laine D’s question about new pushrods... what’s the consensus on that?

I reused the ones that were in the engine (6.9) but I used 7.3 rockers. So I currently have a new R&D bigger cam, original lifters and rods, comp 910 springs holding up a valve job. and used 7.3 rockers.

Not trying to hijack a thread, I’m just having a similar situation.
 

IDIBRONCO

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About Laine D’s question about new pushrods... what’s the consensus on that?
I had forgotten about that question. My feelings are that if there isn't much wear on your pushrods, it's fine to reuse them. Of course, technically, the wear patterns on the used ones may make the rockers wear faster, but if you don't install new rockers then it doesn't matter to me. If you want to use new pushrods, then feel free to. I just don't consider it to be a requirement if your used ones are in good shape.
 
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