This is getting interesting. I decided to see if the Melling lifter was really at zero lash, so I set the dial indicator on the valve spring cup at zero.... then loosened the rocker assembly bolts. The indicator read .040".... so when the assembly was bolted down, the valve was off the seat. Since the lifter had been cycled a few turns through engine rotation, I rechecked the tip and found it could now be compressed, but not as much as OE and it was still much stiffer. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /><img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I called Melling for help. They have a set of bleeding instructions for these lifters - the only ones they make that require bleeding. For some reason, AutoZone doesn't supply the instructions. They're similar to the FSM procedure outlined for cleaning.

Here are the 2 lifters side-by-side.... OE on the left, Melling on the right - notice the larger oil hole in the Melling lifter - that may help stop the cursed 3.0L valve tick. Melling says it's supposed to at least help. Maybe that enlarged oil port is a good reason to try a set of these lifters:



Frank