Have some questions gearing up for this undertaking...

My valves tap VERY loud. The 30 second cycle trick doesnt remove this problem and its been suggested the lash adjusters are worn beyond this little trick helping anything...

To replace all adjusters is $600. new guides and seals - $130. Total $730. Now a whole new OEM head is $600 each. So for $500 more I shouldnt have to worry about anything wearing out in on the head for a long while or is this serious overkill???

What would you do if this were your truck? Buy the parts, buy the whole head, or some other route??

Going the first route with replacing the most logical parts in need of replacement...is there anything else I should anticipate replacing on the heads?

Going either way - is there anything beyond the heads that I should should look at or anticipate replacing?

The lifters probably aren't worn so much as they are maybe gunked up. You can try adding a quart of Risoline to the oil and run it for a bit to see if it loosens them up, but when I tried it, it also loosened up the crud around the valve seals and head gaskets and made them leak worse.

I recently made the choice on my '89 3.0L. I pulled the engine and am now putting it back together, but if you only have valve adjuster and seal problems, you can save a lot of money from your quotes (I think) if you can R&R the heads yourself.

I had a good local machine shop go through the parts. Heads were removed and taken to them assembled. They disassembled them, resurfaced the heads, inspected the cams (fine), valves (fine/dressed), valve seats (fine/dressed), valve guides (replaced with updated retainer type), valve springs (fine), rockers (fine), rocker shafts and springs (fine), seals (replaced), cam seals (replaced), valve lash adjusters (replaced), everything cleaned and reassembled - ready to re-install. Total labor was $260 (including guides). I supplied all other OE parts - cost about $150 from the dealer. Grand total (not counting assorted gaskets - about $410. The largest parts expense was the cost of the valve lash adjusters. They can be cleaned and reused in many cases, but I decided to replace them.

My engine only had 131k miles, so I got out for less than an older engine would require. I'd suggest pricing the needed parts and consider doing the tear-down and reassembly yourself if you feel capable and have the down-time.

Good luck,
Frank

Thanks Frank. Is there any other oil treatments out there I can read up on? Is Rislone the most popular?

Some folks put in a quart of ATF in the oil, but you didn't hear it from me - at least not as a suggestion of how to fix something.

Frank

I did replace about half of it when I replace the valve seal. The best trick to remove the noise for me is to stop the engine briefly and then start is again.

I would not think there would be much gunk inside. I always use Mobil 1 since I got it at 72K 5 years ago.

I am sorry to hear you have soo much trouble with it. It never give me big problem although I tend to break more stuff whenever I tried to make it better.

Didn't hear what, dude? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/sleeping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nothin'.... why - did you hear somethin'? I didn't say anything. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

Say Phil - if you and Doug are like me, you probably feel like a puppy who has to stay home while the big dogs run.

Frank
(dude) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/oink.gif" alt="" />

Ruff... Ruff... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rodent.gif" alt="" />

[/hijack] <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" />

Went to good ol Farm & Fleet last night. I guess I've never seen them - they had like 10 different kinds of oil treatment for "noisy" engines...even the guys from PB Blaster have a jug. Man that would be sweet if a bottle would solve this issue - but I'm skeptical, my lifters are LOUD.

Augie, It aint that bad. I really havent done anything to the car since I bought it until recently. Kinda going the extra mile so everything is done for a while <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Still using Mobil1 too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />