1947 Flathead Oil Pressure

[Jeff Trahan]

I changed the oil to Valvoline 20W-50 racing oil and the lifter tick stayed the same. So I guess I need to take the lifter blocks out and check for any blocked passages and check the 3" measurement. The question now is this: is the lifter noise harmful to the engine or just annoying? Should I not start/drive the car until I get time to disassemble the lifter blocks?

Jeff T.

[Steve Passmore]

Its going to depend on which part is not getting oil if that is indeed the problem. If its the plunger not getting oil or is just stuck that will be just like driving with a noisy tappet but if the lifter body is not getting its oil from the lifter block that could be more series.

[Jeff Trahan]

Does the fact that it's quiet when cold but noisy when warm (tick starts after about 15 minutes of idling) provide a clue of what part is not getting oil?

[Steve Passmore]

Not really to me because I was asked to look at a fellow club members car about 4 months ago with exactly the same symptoms. Nice and quite when cold but would tick its head off as soon as it warmed up. I assumed worn lifters that would leak worse when the oil warmed and got thin but the problem was just one plunger frozen solid.     A new set cured it instantly but I don't know why it gave those symptoms.

[Bobby B]

Not really to me because I was asked to look at a fellow club members car about 4 months ago with exactly the same symptoms. Nice and quite when cold but would tick its head off as soon as it warmed up. I assumed worn lifters that would leak worse when the oil warmed and got thin but the problem was just one plunger frozen solid.     A new set cured it instantly but I don't know why it gave those symptoms.

Steve,
  I think that even the slightest valve train noise sounds horrible in a Flathead because it gets amplified and not dampened by the proximity of the metal valley covers. All it takes is one bad apple.....
                                                             Bobby

[Steve Passmore]

Dead right there Bobby