Posted by Matt Y on February 20, 1999 at 20:03:09:
Okay, so I finally got my headers on, thanks for the advice everyone, and I've put some mufflers on. I've just rebuilt this engine and I've actually only had the engine fire a few times before and I didn't run it for that long of a time. I started it again today after putting the mufflers on so I could check to see if everything was okay and to let it run for a while to break everything in. However, once I started it a very loud clattering noise could be heard. I sounded like it was coming from the heads, could it be the lifters or something like that? I know oil is being pumped, but I don't know how much pressure is actually there. I have this engine overhaul manual that says the lifters may clatter for a few minutes until they get oil. But, I have started it and let it run before (I probably didn't notice the clattering then because I had open exhaust). So if it's the lifters, does this mean that they'll always clatter everytime I start the engine? This is the first time I've rebuilt an engine so I have no idea whether this is normal or not. By the way, they are hydraulic lifters.
Matt