RE: IML: Lifter collapse - 1955

["Dick Benjamin" <dickb@xxxxxxxxx>]

I agree, the problem is most likely a particle of crud in the offending
lifter.  I know there are many pet cures for this - ask 20 people and you
will get at least 25 opinions as to which product cures the problem.  

Adding my experience to the mix, then, I herewith put forth my pet cure, an
oil additive called "CD-2".  I have used this stuff for many years - it is a
detergent booster (as are most of the other suggestions you will get) and I
have frequently had a valve quiet down while I am pouring the stuff into the
oil filler with the engine idling, before I even finish the whole can.

The problem with most non-factory engine rebuilds comes from poor
cleanliness - and this is a typical result.  When I do an engine or a
transmission, I am obsessive about cleanliness, with stainless steel
workbenches and banning all cloth from the shop during the time the engine
or transmission is going back together, and rinsing each part off in clear
kerosene, then drying with compressed air before each step of assembly, but
few commercial operations can afford the time to do this.  Even some so
called "factory" rebuilders are pretty sloppy, in my experience.

Dick Benjamin  

-----Original Message-----
From: mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:mailing-list-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kenyon Wills
Sent: Sunday, March 19, 2006 11:40 AM
To: IML
Subject: IML: Lifter collapse - 1955

The 55 has done more sitting than driving lately (last
18 months).  It was bought from a PO that claimed the
engine was rebuilt.  Block is clean and painted
day-glo orange, so it has definitely been out of the
car at some point.  Strangely, it appears that the
accessories were not replaced at time of engine
rebuild.  Why one would want to skip redoing $400 of
acessories on a rebuild beats the heck out of me... 



When I start it, I hear tremendous lifter noise. 
Sounds like one and not all.   Tap Tap Tap - not
tapety tapety tapety.  The first few times that the
car came up to temp, the noise abated within a minute
or so of operation and a little revving.  Now it does
not seem to be doing so, and a 3/4 mile trip around
the block on car (no plates on it) yeilded no
improvement.

I presume that the car has hydraulic lifters?  I don't
know the 55 engine well at all.    

What causes lifter noise in a presumably recently
rebuilt, but sitting forever engine?  Should I just
drive the thing and get it on the freeway before
tearing apart?  

Oil pressure indicator says that there's plenty of
pressure, and I'm wondering if the temp just needs to
come up?  How to diagnose without removal of the
intake manifold?

Kenyon Wills
 
 






















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