valve tap

i have a valve tap on my 390 and i was wondering if anyone could tell me how to fix it and like what torque specs and all of the i need to do the the springs and how hard it is and just all of that stuff thx if anyone could

why is it everyone reads this and no one responds? well anyway i was racing sum mexicans in a honda civic and my valve started tapping at the end of the race i took it home and parked it in the garrage my grandad said to take the valve covers off and wipe around the base of the valves because it might be a piece of carbon stuck at the seat of the valve would that work or not? i hope this isn't an expensive fix

PS: i killed the mexicans in the civic :-) that's what i'm building my car for

Been a while since I worked on an FE motor. Valve tapping is usually a result of excess clearance between the rocker tip and the valve tip. If the valvetrain is adjustable it's a matter of finding the offending rocker and tightening it down. If it's a non-adjustable valvetrain then you most likely have a collapsed lifter (which you may have anyway since it occured after racing). Worn rockers, broken springs, worn cam lobes can also contribute to tapping noises so a good general inspection is called for.

With the engine running you can push down on the offending rocker and it will quieten. Kinda messy but it finds it if the inspection reveals nothing.

1966 thunderbird C-6 auto semi-manual valve housing 850CFM mechanical secondary holley, holley blue fuel pump & pressure regulator, ignitor ignition, petrotonix race wires, 40,000 volt coil, glasspack mufflers

Ok I have a question? Are the rocker studs screw in or pressed in studs. Ford had a problem with the pressed in studs pulling out of the head and cause that ticking noise.


~ Vegas ~

P.S. If the pressed in rocker studs are pulling out install screw in studs. Sorry pedestals will have to be machined for screw in rocker studs.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by vara4
Ok I have a question? Are the rocker studs screw in or pressed in studs. Ford had a problem with the pressed in studs pulling out of the head and cause that ticking noise.


~ Vegas ~

P.S. If the pressed in rocker studs are pulling out install screw in studs. Sorry pedestals will have to be machined for screw in rocker studs.

---

FE's have rails that the rockers pivot on. The rails are bolted on, pedestals are drilled & tapped.

yeah it's a 390 fe (as it's in the FE forum) thx for the help i could use some more i'm gona tear it all down friday

i don't think it's something really serious because my rpms wern't that high when it started to tap cause i already let off the gas and was slowing down when it started to tap like i was already goin like 45 (the mexicans were still racing though cause i left them behind so much lol i burried my spedo at 120 and they were only like doin 90 hahahaha) when we pulled up to the stop light i rolled down the window and said nice lawn mover does it have enough power to cut the grass lol. but anyway it doesn't sound like something really bad it just taps and sounds like the valve isn't seating right or something could what my grandad said be right? and do i have adjustable rockers in my 390 (stock heads and stock valve train)

(my grandad said i have adjustable rockers i'm not sure if i do or not)

Thanks Primer I couldn't remember It's been a while since I've seen one. But the clevelands and the small block fords have both kinds screw in and pressed in rocker studs! Thanks for the heads up!


~ Vegas ~

P.S. Let us know what you find is the problem.

i doubt he changed them but thx but all i have to do is tighten the valve spring or what, i know how to find it now but what do i do when i find it? i don't really want to pull the heads or anything like that and it doesn't sound loud enough to be something serious

i just changed it 3 weeks ago and there's not 50 miles on the oil yet could that be it

could wiping the valve seats with a cloth stop it from tapping or is that just like a myth if it isn't i hope that stops it

You can't wipe the valve seats with a cloth without taking the heads off. The valve seats are on the inside of the engine. Maybe we've got a terminology problem here?

Find the location of the tapping, then start looking at the pieces. See if the pushrod is damaged. See if the rocker arm is damaged. See if it's adjustable or fixed.

Sometimes ya just gotta poke around . . .

thx a bunch you just anwsered my question

What Jack (Henry Rifle) says is right on the money. Your 390 should not have adjustable rockers. They are shaft mounted. You'll have to pull the four bolts in the shaft, and take it off once you know which one is making the noise. You'll probably find that the pushrod or the rocker is worn where they meet. Not uncommon on an older, higher mileage FE. Just replace which everone is worn and put it back together and no more noise. P.S. it is also possible that you bent the pushrod while burying the speedometer. Then you just replace it.

Hey, 66 Thunderbirds never had anything but FE's. Anyway the noicy lifter could be just a piece of carbon that got stuck in the oil passage of the lifter.. If the motor hasn't ever been rebuilt, It'll have alot of build up inside and during the higher rpm and hotter running, it's possible for a piece to be dislodged. Change the oil and filter, Add Lucas oil Additive. Subbing the Lucas for 1 qt. of oil. Drive it. See if it clears up.
Also if the noise comes and goes, it's possible it might be in the rockers.. Ford Fe rockers ar held in alignment with just a spring, and they do move around some. If the tip of the rocker that sets on the valve is worn and not smooth. It to can cause the noise.
It's possible that the ball on the end of the pushrod came off, but I'd think it would be louder than a tic! Even possibly a knock, or a miss in the engine.
Good Luck, Ray

Valve noise in a FE always makes me nervous, since they are bad for dropping valves. Don't run one with valve noise, the extra stress will cause the head of the valve to break off. Your noise could be a broken spring. If so you don't have to tear it down, use air pressure to hold the valve shut and buy a spring compressor.

In regards to the valve tap, FE's valves are known to float at high rpms, thus COULD be the valve tapping. If you consistently run the high range, you may want to look at some Erson rocker roller setup or similar. The stock rocker setup is good till about 6000, after that you are rolling the dice anyway. Just my opinion.