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Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287743] Tue, 22 September 2015 07:20 Go to next message
LNelson is currently offline  LNelson   United States
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While parked for a month in it's garage, my 455 decided to honor me with a noisy lifter on a quick trip to Branson Saturday (40 miles). I hear it when the engine is under load...when I back off, like after climbing a grade, the noise goes away. I poured a bit of MMO in the oil at the campground hoping it would heal itself. Still there. I sense no loss of power or engine missing. I guess I need to pop the lid and put my stethoscope on the old girl.

Larry


Larry Nelson Springfield, MO Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287746 is a reply to message #287743] Tue, 22 September 2015 07:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Larry is currently offline  Larry   United States
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LNelson wrote on Tue, 22 September 2015 07:20
While parked for a month in it's garage, my 455 decided to honor me with a noisy lifter on a quick trip to Branson Saturday (40 miles). I hear it when the engine is under load...when I back off, like after climbing a grade, the noise goes away. I poured a bit of MMO in the oil at the campground hoping it would heal itself. Still there. I sense no loss of power or engine missing. I guess I need to pop the lid and put my stethoscope on the old girl.

Larry

It is more likely that you have developed an exhaust leak between one of the exhaust manifolds and the cylinder head. That kind of leak can often sound like a lifter. Lifter noise is a constant tick that does not change with engine load while an exhaust leak will be very apparent under load and seem to go away when coasting. Lift the hatch and listen for it under a load. You will be able to quickly determine which side the noise is coming from. If you are careful (not to burn yourself) you can often feel the leak.


Larry Smile
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287748 is a reply to message #287743] Tue, 22 September 2015 08:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Yes, what Larry said.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287804 is a reply to message #287748] Wed, 23 September 2015 18:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bhayes is currently offline  bhayes   United States
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JohnL455 wrote on Tue, 22 September 2015 07:18
Yes, what Larry said.


What Larry and John said. In my case, it was a leaky exhaust gasket. Sounded just like a noisy lifter, but only under load.


Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287805 is a reply to message #287804] Wed, 23 September 2015 19:36 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bruce Hart is currently offline  Bruce Hart   United States
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One of B. Bramlett's trick is to pour a bit of oil in the carb and wach for
the smoke from the leaking exhaust manifold.

On Wed, Sep 23, 2015 at 5:53 PM, Bryan Hayes wrote:

> JohnL455 wrote on Tue, 22 September 2015 07:18
>> Yes, what Larry said.
>
>
> What Larry and John said. In my case, it was a leaky exhaust gasket.
> Sounded just like a noisy lifter, but only under load.
> --
> Bryan Hayes
> '76 Eleganza II
> Salt Lake City, Utah
>
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Bruce Hart
1976 Palm Beach
Milliken, Co
GMC=Got More Class
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Bruce Hart 1976 Palm Beach 1977 28' Kingsley La Grange, Wyoming
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287806 is a reply to message #287743] Wed, 23 September 2015 20:26 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Larry is currently offline  Larry   United States
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Dave lenzi probably has the best set of Copper exhaust gaskets for the Olds out there. If you are coming to GMCMI in Rapid City or have a friend coming to the rally, Dave will be here, no doubt selling his manifold gaskets. Try as you wish to get them from him. There are others, but these are probably the best.

Larry Smile
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287809 is a reply to message #287806] Wed, 23 September 2015 21:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gary Worobec is currently offline  Gary Worobec   United States
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Dave's intake manifold gaskets are great as long as the head and manifold
have no pitting or warping. If they do you need to use Remflex gaskets on
older heads and manifolds. JimK has them.

Thanks,

Gary and Joanne Worobec
1973 GMC Glacier
Anza, CA


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces@list.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Larry
Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 2015 6:26 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think)

Dave lenzi probably has the best set of Copper exhaust gaskets for the Olds
out there. If you are coming to GMCMI in Rapid City or have a friend coming
to the rally, Dave will be here, no doubt selling his manifold gaskets. Try
as you wish to get them from him. There are others, but these are probably
the best.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

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Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287833 is a reply to message #287743] Thu, 24 September 2015 21:04 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris Tyler is currently offline  Chris Tyler   United States
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Another trick for locating the leak is to run the engine at night with the cover off, The leak will often show as a small flash

Watch where you put your hands. Dont ask me how I know this.


Another possibility as a rocker arm, which is easier to fix.


76 Glenbrook
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287838 is a reply to message #287833] Fri, 25 September 2015 00:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
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A length of vacuum hose stuck in your ear and probed around the engine will also locate noises very accurately. Works exceptionally well on exhaust leaks and will kind of shut out the other engine noises so you can hear only where the end of the hose is placed.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287889 is a reply to message #287838] Sat, 26 September 2015 09:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LNelson is currently offline  LNelson   United States
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Well, I popped the hatch and started her up. I can plainly see, and feel, that the exhaust gasket in front, left side, is the culprit. After a few minutes of running, my CO detector started to fire off and as far as I know, it is still beeping. Waiting to let her cool down and start the PB blaster treatment awaiting the Remflex gaskets I ordered yesterday. I welcome advice as I have never removed the manifolds from any of my 455's. So I assume pulling the left wheel and maybe the left wheel liner is recommended???? Or can I get to that area from below without too much difficulty. Possibly some from the top?? Thanks to all.

Larry Nelson Springfield, MO Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287891 is a reply to message #287889] Sat, 26 September 2015 10:07 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bullitthead is currently offline  Bullitthead   United States
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You can do the left side from the top pretty easy, no need to do the wheel and liner. Don't even take the donut connection apart if you can get the gasket remnants out. That will help hold the manifold in proper placement. If you can, put a threaded rod back in when you remove the end bolts so you can just slide the manifold away from the head and not need to remove it completely. Try to tweak the bolts tighter just a degree or 2 before loosening them (just to break them free), that trick has saved me from many galled threads and broken bolts. If you do the passenger side, remove the wheel and liner, much easier because of the A/C compressor is in the way of doing that side from the top.

Terry Kelpien ASE Master Technician 73 Glacier 260 Smithfield, Va.
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287893 is a reply to message #287891] Sat, 26 September 2015 10:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Will an impact wrench get the bolts out more reliably without snapping them off? Anybody?
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287896 is a reply to message #287743] Sat, 26 September 2015 12:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
habbyguy is currently offline  habbyguy   United States
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My motor is a 403, and it has headers rather than iron manifolds, but I know there wasn't room to get a regular ratchet on some of the bolts. That ended up not being an issue at all, since they all came out easily enough, so it was really only a couple minutes extra work to spin out the bolts by hand or with a couple dozen extra swings of the wrench. I had open body sockets that would have made it easier, but going to get them would have taken a lot more time than I saved. It really wasn't a difficult job, and was easily done from up top. The only difficulty I had was getting the bolts started again, due to tension from the exhaust system "pulling" on the header, making it tough to push up and forward into position. If I had enlisted the help of another grease monkey, it would have been a piece of cake. As it was, I just lifted the header with a floor jack, and moved it forward with a small pry bar to line up the fist bolts.

Mark Hickey Mesa, AZ 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287899 is a reply to message #287893] Sat, 26 September 2015 14:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chris Tyler is currently offline  Chris Tyler   United States
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A Hamilto wrote on Sat, 26 September 2015 10:27
Will an impact wrench get the bolts out more reliably without snapping them off? Anybody?


I wouldnt unless you turn down the air pressure. What was mentioned about tightening a bit before trying to remove is good advice. Tapping the wrench with a dead blow hammer helps and gives you more control. Once loose, you can use the air tools


76 Glenbrook
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287901 is a reply to message #287889] Sat, 26 September 2015 14:28 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
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Sir, 4 of the bolts are open end in the spark plug hole. Penetrating oil and a small wire brush to really clean before trying to remove. Six point socket or box end. I have had good luck with impact gun.



LNelson wrote on Sat, 26 September 2015 10:46
Well, I popped the hatch and started her up. I can plainly see, and feel, that the exhaust gasket in front, left side, is the culprit. After a few minutes of running, my CO detector started to fire off and as far as I know, it is still beeping. Waiting to let her cool down and start the PB blaster treatment awaiting the Remflex gaskets I ordered yesterday. I welcome advice as I have never removed the manifolds from any of my 455's. So I assume pulling the left wheel and maybe the left wheel liner is recommended???? Or can I get to that area from below without too much difficulty. Possibly some from the top?? Thanks to all.



C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
Re: Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287920 is a reply to message #287743] Sat, 26 September 2015 19:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
habbyguy is currently offline  habbyguy   United States
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And just to add the obvious, don't THINK of using an air wrench of any flavor to put the bolts back on... The Remflex gaskets call for torque in the 20 foot/pound range... far under anything you'd reliably get with an air wrench (especially since they should be tightened in a few increments to get there).

Mark Hickey Mesa, AZ 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287934 is a reply to message #287889] Sat, 26 September 2015 22:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
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Larry,

To state the obvious: Be VERY careful to not bend the Remflex gaskets AT
ALL. They're very fragile until clamped in place and WILL leak a the
slightest, easy to create, break.

Ken H.


On Sat, Sep 26, 2015 at 10:46 AM, Larry Nelson <
larrynelsonarchitect@mchsi.com> wrote:

> Well, I popped the hatch and started her up. I can plainly see, and feel,
> that the exhaust gasket in front, left side, is the culprit. After a few
> minutes of running, my CO detector started to fire off and as far as I
> know, it is still beeping. Waiting to let her cool down and start the PB
> blaster treatment awaiting the Remflex gaskets I ordered yesterday. I
> welcome advice as I have never removed the manifolds from any of my 455's.
> So I
> assume pulling the left wheel and maybe the left wheel liner is
> recommended???? Or can I get to that area from below without too much
> difficulty.
> Possibly some from the top?? Thanks to all.
> -
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287948 is a reply to message #287934] Sun, 27 September 2015 14:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tphipps is currently offline  tphipps   United States
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Do not torque the top center bolt. This bolt just holds the manifold in place until the 4 centerline bolts are installed. If overtightened, it will pull the top of the manifold tighter to the head, than the bottom of the manifold. Voila, a new source of leaks. Torque only the center bolts of the 455. I do not know if this is true on the 403.
Tom, MS II


2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552 KA4CSG
Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287957 is a reply to message #287948] Sun, 27 September 2015 21:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
LNelson is currently offline  LNelson   United States
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I got all five bolts loose today. Thanks for all the advice. I am waiting for the gaskets to arrive. Thinking about anti seize on the bolts when I put them back in. Thoughts? Thanks again for the great advice.

Larry


Larry Nelson Springfield, MO Ex GMC'er, then GM Busnut now '77 Eleganza ARS WB0JOT
Re: [GMCnet] Noisy Lifter (I think) [message #287964 is a reply to message #287957] Mon, 28 September 2015 03:44 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Loffen is currently offline  Loffen   Norway
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Anti seize would not hurt.

Do also check the gasket on the intake where the hot air tubes for the choke goes in the exhaust cross over if you have a early coach.


1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green, And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel in Norway
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