Noisy Tappets in 3.5 V8

[djam1]

Seeking advice from those in Rover Land that have more knowledge than I.
I have a 3.5 Litre Series 3 Land Rover that has done a genuine 84000 km, Due to the tappets being noisy I replaced the cam and lifters to discover that after a short time I still have a noisy tappet. I have done the following
1) Run the Cam in for 15-20 Mins at 1500 rpm immediately on starting
2) Replaced the Rockers with an old set to see if it made and difference and it made none
3) Isolated the noise to the rear most tappet on the right hand bank. I can make the noise go away by backing off the bolt on the rocker pedestall and tightening it up again but after a few seconds the noise returns.
4) Suspected a slipped liner but the test in 3 should disprove this.
5) On the advice of TRS in Adelaide I didnt check the lifter preload on reassembly as all the parts were standard.

The engine performs really well with out any issues apart from that %&$3 tapping (does it hot and cold)

I suspect either a crook lifter or wrong preload.
Does anyone have any views

Djam

[Loanrangie]

Are they rover lifters or holden ? Many have used the cheaper holden V8 lifters only to find they produce noises like you are having now. Could also be a head gasket, if they havent been done even with the low k's. My 81 RR had a noise similar to a tappet but it was the sound of escaping gases against the underside of the valley cover, new gaskets and it went away.

[justinC]

Did you useholden lifters or rover ones???

Holden lifters fit, but can sometimes rattle and there is no option then but to fit Rover ones.

You only get what you pay for with cam followers.

JC

[djam1]

I bought the lifters and cam from Triumph Rover Spares in Adelaide and from what I understood the lifters were US made ones for a Rover. They definately were not Holden ones and I would assume with TRS's history and reputation they should be ok.
Apparently they have used this brand for years in Rover V8s.

From what I can see about this engine some one had the heads off of it about 18 months ago, the head gaskets are tin and the internals of the engine are ridicilously clean without a sign of any issues.

[Loanrangie]

Eaton lifters i think, try swapping them around to see if the noise shifts.

[peter r]

G`day ,

from what you`ve said i suggest you take the rocker gear off the side that rattles and put a straight edge along the valve stems .

They should be the same height , i don`t know which heads it has fitted but the earlier heads will suffer from valve seat recession when run on lpg/unleaded . The seats get pushed up into the head which raises the height of the valve stem which in turn lessens the clearence/preload .

The reason i suggest this is because when you loosen the rocker gear and the noise goes away you are decressing the preload , lifting the rod further up the inside of the lifter .

As far as lifters i`ve used Rover , GMH , and Aftermarket .

Rover ones work but will rattle if not setup right , same with GMH ones as long as the pushrod balls are in good condition/shape .
Some aftermarket which are referred to as Holden ( GMH are Holden ) have a smaller diameter seat in the lifter and sometimes will rattle because the seat and ball don`t mate properly which lets oil past the hole in the seat .

It`s also not unknow to get a crook new lifter of any type and it could be when you loosen the rocker the lifter is running in a poss that doesn`t make noise .

The norm is to rattle with not enough preload , too much clearance .

Good luck , peter .

[djam1]

Thanks for your replies fellas
I have booked it into a workshop next monday and sourced some more lifters from the supplier, I dont have time to do it myself at the moment so I will get them to replace the suspect lifter, check preload and even change the heads if needed

Thanks for your assistance

[Philip A]

Exhaust manifold gasket on one cylinder.
regards Philip A