Lifter bore wear

The 351-W that is in my 55 sunliner started to make a lifter noise when starting up after sitting all night after a 3000 mile trip last fall and was told it could be the lifter bores are worn too much,of all the motors I had thorugh the years I never ran into this. The builder supplied the block so I do knot know how many miles were on it and it does have the wrong cam for the application but dont want to spend too much money in it since I am planning on going back to a Y block. I put a gauge on the motor and the oil pressure starts to go up when cranking and on high idle will go up to 70 and then when warm comes down to 30 when hot at regular idle so I dont think pressure is the problem,it will make noise about a minute after firing up and always had a little noise coming from the top but nothing I would consider serious but a minute for the lifters to pump up seems a little long for a rebuilt motor with about 10,000 miles on it.

Did you use an Extreme Energy grind? Those things are notorious for being noisy in the valvetrain.

it just may need more pre load on the lifters . could be lifter valving try running some new oil and filter in it

I have no idea on what cam was installed,I was supposed to get a cam card with the motor and did not but all I know is the cam is for a 302 and starts coming in around 2500 RPMs even though I told the builder I wanted one from idle to 4000. I presumed all the rocker arms and push rods were new but since the builder has a questionable reputation who knows as they might be cleaned up used ones and I decided not to spend much money on it right now since I am going back to a Y block,the motor will be going in my 65 custom 500 when it gets pulled from the 55 but will be taking it apart and changing the cam and heads them. I will pull a valve cover and check the rocker arms to see if they are used and put a new set in if they look worn but it will have to wait until it gets pulled before I go any further.

After hearing a few latemodels start up today at work maybe I am worrying too much,its due for a oil change and will put a heavier oil in it.

my new toyota rattles every lifter in it for a few seconds every time i start it .. crappy 5 weight oil it has to have

My motor has 10W30 in it and will put 15W40 diesel oil in it when it gets changed this weekend.