Lifter tick

DAKOTA BILLINGS

MEMBER
1996 PONTIAC FIREBIRD
3.8L
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
155,000 MILES

Have the car listed above with 3800 v6. Has a lifter tick issue upon reaching operating temperature. Does not tick when cold. I have tried engine flushes and additives like Lucas and nothing works. Any ideas? I don't want to have to pull the intake manifold and replace lifters. Please help

Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 10:16 PM

6 Replies

DAKOTA BILLINGS

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10 POSTS

Also lifters quiet down under slight revs.

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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 10:17 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
15,233 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros. What oil pressure do you have when it is ticking? Your description sounds like replacement might be the only repair, are you sure it is a lifter? I would probably pull the rocker covers off and be sure you don't have something like a broken valve spring or loose rocker that is allowing the lifter to click due to no pre-load on it.

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Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 AT 10:32 PM

DAKOTA BILLINGS

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10 POSTS

60lb oil pressure at idle.

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Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 10:11 AM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
15,233 POSTS

Well it isn't a lack of oil pressure then. If it's a lifter tick then I hate to say it but you likely are looking at replacing them.

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Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 12:50 PM

DAKOTA BILLINGS

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10 POSTS

Okay, thank you for the helpful insight. Any tips on making the manifold removal easier? This engine is halfway into the body of the car so access is limited. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

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Wednesday, October 30th, 2019 AT 2:01 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
15,233 POSTS

That car is a bear to work on. I've wanted to cut the body off of a few while working on them. One thing that can help is to remove the engine mounts and let the engine set into the cradle farther. However, when was the last time the clutch was serviced, It might be easier to pull the engine, reseal the engine, maybe upgrade it a bit and install a new clutch assy. While it's out. There are cams that would give you a bit more power as well. If you're going to need to get into the engine anyway.

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