I have an '87 GT with a stock 2.8L. with 111,000 mi. I'm hearing a "clicking" sound from the valve cover at idle and am wondering if the cause could be the lifters or valves etc. If the problem is the lifters, does the engine have to be removed to rectify the situation? This may be a game breaker for me because the labor cost of the job could prove to be too expensive, if I can even find someone to do the work. How much is average for the job and how long does it usually take to complete? Thanks again for all your help and input. Rich
It might just be a rocker thet needs adjusting/tightening. If it is lifter the engine does not need to be removed to replace them. It's a fix that can be accomplished fairly easily. It is time consuming but not terrible.
Thanks, you not only made my day-----you made my YEAR! Rich
Don't clap yet. You may want to check for a leak on or around the exhaust manifold which can make a very similar sound. If that turns out to be true you could be in for a major surprise, assuming its a 2.8.
Spoon
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
yes the clicking sound can be an exhaust leak. If you get a length of surgical tubing, you can stick one end in your ear and use the other end as a sound probe. That will tell you exactly where the sound comes from. On a 2.8 it is far more likely you have an exhaust leak at the manifold than a rocker loose. Either way it is fixable but the exhaust leak will be a pita.
Originally posted by Spoon: Don't clap yet. You may want to check for a leak on or around the exhaust manifold which can make a very similar sound. If that turns out to be true you could be in for a major surprise, assuming its a 2.8.
Spoon
Honestly, I'd prefer an exhaust leak to adjusting rockers or changing lifters or valve seals, on the 2.8. Only "worry" with the exhaust manifold leaking is breaking a bolt as they like to rust. But patience and proper prep should generally keep that from happening. With anything under the valve covers, you're going to be pulling the intake manifold apart and dealing with 30 year old brittle plastic and rubber, having to replace a lot more gaskets than just the one or two.
Pulling the exhaust manifolds also lets you do a quick, easy, and cheap upgrade to the manifolds to clean them up for better flow.
Thanks for the response and experience. SPOON: I'm not one for surprises, so if the problem isn't the lifter, what am I going to be expecting. Also if the problem is an exhaust manifold leak, does the engine have to be removed to rectify the situation? Rich
Fist of all I'd welcome a rod being thrown thru the block and penetrating the bulkhead before having to do this job again.
Best case scenario: The factory forgot to tighten the manifold bolts and they all vibrated loose. 5 minute fix!!
Worse case scenario:
I had the worse case scenario. Heard a mild ticking sound that went away after the engine warmed up. narrowed it down to the forward manifold which is ALWAYS the troublemaker. Rolled underneath with wrench in hand to take a peek and discovered 2 bolts had no heads. I sprayed everything down with every lubricant on the market and went back at it a few days later only to have the remaining bolts break off with little or no effort. Now I'm totally -----d.
Bought a right angle drill and short bits for clearance and an easy-out. No luck. Ordered engine gasket set and pulled both heads. Bought a drill press and some taps and went to work on these heads. Installed exhaust manifold studs & nuts instead of bolts. A few spark plugs even twisted off and I had to chase those threads. I also sent the manifolds out for porting and reinforcement welding.
Put everything back together and hope I never have to do this again. Guess I'm fortunate to know how to do my own work but can imagine what this would of cost at a repair shop.
Just be prepared for lots of stuff breaking and when you think it can't get any worse it will. Trust me on this one.
Spoon
------------------ "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut
Assuming the "clicking" is either/or an exhaust leak/lifter problem, what if I do nothing and live with the noise? Rich
If it's an exhaust leak, it could suck air into the exhaust system can cause excessive heat as unburned fuel in the exhaust gas ignites, and could also affect oxygen sensor readings, and cause increased wear on the catalytic converter.
If it's a lifter, failure could be catastrophic if it results in a valve and piston coming in contact.
