Engine question

jyrmex · #1 October 31st, 2009, 02:34 AM

Hi,

As I´m planning winter hobbies, our 77 continental came to my mind. It has 400 engine and there is and has been clicking noise, since we bpougt it. It comes from passenger´s side of engine. It sound´s like it comes from valve lifter´s. No one know´s how many mileadge it has. The sound comes when you drive less than 3/4 throttle and iddling.Similas sound as sawing machine! I use 95 octane and last summer i testet it with 98 + one bottle of octane booster. It went away for a while but come back. Oil is ok. Is the something to adjust? I think that it has hydraulik lifter´s. When open it what I shoud be ready for. New lifter´s, Rocker arm´s ? Maybe the cam is going to be were out?

Br,

Jyrki

KStromberg · #2 October 31st, 2009, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyrmex

Hi,

As I´m planning winter hobbies, our 77 continental came to my mind. It has 400 engine and there is and has been clicking noise, since we bpougt it. It comes from passenger´s side of engine. It sound´s like it comes from valve lifter´s. No one know´s how many mileadge it has. The sound comes when you drive less than 3/4 throttle and iddling.Similas sound as sawing machine! I use 95 octane and last summer i testet it with 98 + one bottle of octane booster. It went away for a while but come back. Oil is ok. Is the something to adjust? I think that it has hydraulik lifter´s. When open it what I shoud be ready for. New lifter´s, Rocker arm´s ? Maybe the cam is going to be were out?

Br,

Jyrki

The noise you are hearing is most likely from your lifters. Hydraulic lifters aren't adjustable like solid lifters. Also, with the valve covers off, you could check to see that your rockers and push-rods are all tight.

pro-five-oh · #3 October 31st, 2009, 08:50 AM

Might also be a cracked exhaust manifold. But if you really think that adding higher octane fuel fixed it, the lifters/cam/exhaust is probably fine and you need to adjust your carb accordingly.

jyrmex · #4 October 31st, 2009, 01:59 PM

Hi,

The exhaust manifold is ok. We cheked it out last summer. But about the lifters. How difficult is the change. Should I change all the lifters or only the bad one? If I change them I need allso valve compressor tool. I´v been tryed to find one, but just now I´dont what kind of one I need.

Br,

Jyrki

Dibly74 · #5 November 1st, 2009, 11:42 AM

I have a 79 with the 400 that I played hell with to get it to quit making that kind of noise. Mine was all carb related. It seems the power valves in these carbs, including the ones in rebuild kits are flaky. Some are to tight and some are to loose and some leak right out of the box. Make sure your timing is right on and then rebuild the carb.

pro-five-oh · #6 November 1st, 2009, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dibly74

I have a 79 with the 400 that I played hell with to get it to quit making that kind of noise. Mine was all carb related. It seems the power valves in these carbs, including the ones in rebuild kits are flaky. Some are to tight and some are to loose and some leak right out of the box. Make sure your timing is right on and then rebuild the carb.

Good advice.

jyrmex · #7 November 1st, 2009, 03:13 PM

Hi,

I know what you mean. I allso had a battle with my carburator untill I got it right. Mine needed whole rebuilt. I´m quite sure about the sound. It´s not kind of pinning sound which related of bad timing.
I have read about twice the shopmanual and somehow the starting of these kind of job make´s me wonder, am I able to do it. Just a little bit nervous with new thing´s. I have one more question. Do anybody know weight of transmisson? Approx weight would be interresting data to know.

Br,

Jyrki

Desert Stallion · #8 November 2nd, 2009, 03:56 PM

+1 on the 400's carb being a PITA. A friend had one in a '78 pickup, and we could change the valve at the side of the road in a few minutes after a while, lol.

Lifter's aren't that big of a deal to change, but since you're in there you may want to just inspect everything, for which you will need a spring compressor. You can use the rocker bolt like a stud to use the less expensive spring compressors, and use compressed air blown into the cylinder via a leak-down tester hose to keep the v

This way, you can check out the valve springs themselves to make sure they still apply appropriate force to the valves, and the motor isn't suffering valve float at 3,000 RPM (I saw this once, nasty business), inspect the pushrods to make sure they're not bent into new and creative shapes, even throw some new oil seals on the valves if you're so inclined. The lifters just lift out (in theory) once the pushrods are out, and a magnet works great here.

jyrmex · #9 November 3rd, 2009, 02:23 PM

Hi

Thank You for all advices. Your replys just confirmed me that I´m ready to do and take this job. I´ll let You know in spring how it went.

Br,

Jyrki

ericpmarkIII · #10 November 5th, 2009, 12:10 PM

You may want to also consider timming chain swap. Most were retarded new on 400's. At some point water pp., timing chain preventive maintance anyway. Could get some free power, millage and piece o mind with a days work. Best to check compression before you freshen her up. Good timming, carb, et cetera won't help week cylinder. Good luck!