Ponchobroke

OK team, let's all rally around the hurt gazelle.

I came off the highway last night to a clatter from the engine bay (pressure-up. temp-norm, oil level-norm, engine able to rev as normal and not laboring at idle). Upon inspection it appears to be coming from the left bank and sounds something between valve train and bearing wear. Only being able to identify these noises specifically from my Detroit Iron days I am fearing the worst. Can anyone give me some guidance to better determine the cause? Also, is there a general guide for the expected cost? I am afraid I will need to tow to an urban center (Portland) for the repair and need to know if I need some nighttime work to be able to eat at the same time.

Also might it be better to replace than repair?

thx in advance

<img border="0" alt="[crying]" title="" src="graemlins/crying.gif" />

chris walrod

how many miles are on this car?

It may be as simple as a collapsed rocker. I am sure others will chime in here. There was another thread recently about this same noise. Search the archives on engine noise etc.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Hi John:

Sorry to hear of your misfortune,......

Although diaganosing such things from afar is difficult at best, Chris's assessment is likely the culprit. The hydraulic lifters do fail from excessive heat and wear and will make quite a racket when this happens.

My recommendation is that should this turn out to be the case, replace ALL of them, not just the offending parts. Failure to do this just about guarantees an "Encore Performance".

Have Mike Jordan at Stuttgart AutoTech in Lake Oswego handle this for you.

Ponchobroke

Steve,

I am down in Ashland, about 4 hours from ya'll up north. Do you know anything about Specialized or Lindorf's in Medford?

Also would this be a tow or a drive to lake Oswego?

poorb0yw

I had the exact same thing happen about 3 months ago. Oddly enough I was exiting the freeway as well and the sound was from the left. The culprit was exactly as Steve said (failed lifter). I went ahead and had all the ones on that side replaced while they were in there.

I know it was under $1000, but I don't really remember the exact amount.

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Originally posted by Ponchobroke:
<strong>Steve,

I am down in Ashland, about 4 hours from ya'll up north. Do you know anything about Specialized or Lindorf's in Medford?

Also would this be a tow or a drive to lake Oswego?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana,Tahoma,Helvetica">Hi John:

I know nothing about those folks but I would have this done by people who work on these cars and are well-versed in these procedures. IMHO, Mike @ Stuttgart is the man for you.

Just drive it gently to LO in 6th gear and you'll do no harm.

chris walrod

what do these rockers cost by themselves? I am curious if I should replace these as a preventive measure?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Hi Chris:

Those run $ 25.69/each.

If I have an engine that has some noisy ones, I much prefer to replace ALL of them.

Ponchobroke

Steve,

Thanks for the input. I guess I'll be taking an easy ride north in the next couple of days.

Dave Crellin

John, about 12 months ago i had all 6 lifters changed on one side at a P-car dealer and total cost out the door was about $500.

NVRANUF

My 97 is in the shop at this moment for the same deal. Left side front ticking noise. One went, but I'm replacing all 6.

My dealer quoted me $750 Cdn.....

$45/lifer X 6 plus 6 hours labour.....

I'm hoping the dealer comes through for me, and offers assistance, as I just purchased the car from him last summer and only added 5k Km to the 40k the car had.... if not, so be it.