Expert: Robert Summers - 8/6/2008

Question
Alright...This one might be tricky or very easy. I have a 1949 chevy with a 216 straight six with a 3 speed. I just noticed it started making a ticking noise. I wanted to know if this could be a bad lifter? The noise will go away from time to time. Could you lead me to any clue? And if it is a lifter how do I go about fixing it? And if it's something a mechanic must fix what would the cost be? Thank you.

Answer
Hi Ken.  if you believe it's a noisy lifter there is a couple of things you can try to make it quiet...try flushing the engine...you don't say what year engine is so i will assume it's the orig. drain oil, clean filter and install a straight weight oil. if you already use SAE 30 try going to SAE 40 if you use 10W anything go to the straight weights, a heaver grade oil may stop the noise. if not try an engine cleaner additive in the oil and change again. try adding some lucus oil treatment.if all this doesn't help you may need to have rockers adjusted...hope this helps...