My WB Statesman has had a noisy lifter since I bought it about 2 months ago, and Ive tried an engine flush and a couple of oil changes and have used lifter conditioner, but the engine still tapped away. I know it's not the end of the world on a tired 206,000km 308, but it's the one thing that makes my otherwise tidy De Ville seem like an old clunker. The exhaust system is quiet but you could hear the old WB coming because of its tapping lifter.

So I tried something I've never heard of before, and that was grinding the rocker post on the one rocker that I had discovered had play in it (I checked the bolt tension first, and torqued it up a little, but the rocker still had some movement in it - the others were as tight as a drum.)

So after grinding down the post (with several layers of cotton around the work area to catch to metal filings) I bolted it all up, no play at the rocker anymore, and to be honest I still thought it wouldn't work and that the lifter wasn't going to pump up, despite my effort to pre-load it. So I fired up the engine. It was tappping away initially, but after about 10 sec it started to quieten down.
Sure, there's a bit of valve train noise, but that annoying, loud 'tap-tap' has gone. So thanks, Dr Terry, it worked! I'm sure for most of you guys this is pretty basic but geez it's satisfying to work on a car and get such good results without having to pull the thing completely to bits. Love this WB, it's not only a cool car but I really enjoy working on it.

It needed about .25mm ground off, if that. I intended to grind it in stages and I didnt even have to have a second go at it before getting the desired effect. How will that stuff the head? Do you mean when it comes to rebuild time the head cant be used with that amount ground off?

I also wondered about grinding the rocker bridge but I didnt want to risk weakening it, although in hindsight the very little I needed to grind off probably wouldnt have.

heads are cheap anyway,your is obviously still useable anyway,i was wondering why you wouldnt just replace the rocker and rod thou?,
or is it a slightly collapsed lifter?
grinding the post down will put slightly more tension on the valve spring,but its a brilliant fix..


P.S.,i"ll have to remmember that one.

Jim in Adelaide...Hindsight is bad vision!

Edited by user Sunday, 4 April 2010 7:20:06 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Have to agree, 206000km isnt a lot for that age car. Lots of slow running and I would bet the cam is losing a lobe for sure as a result. I bet the lifter noise comes back in no time.

Fair enough I suppose.

Theres more than one way to skin a cat, eh? Maybe I havent done the job the best way, but I got the result I wanted for the short term I hope it lasts. I drove the WB about 25km today and it was great to pull up at the lights and not hear the lifter tapping.

The WB isnt driven a whole lot and while itll do more than 200km a year it wont be much more than 2000km. I was hoping the engine would last at least a year or two before pulling it out and rebuilding it. And when I do I guess Ill have to shim one of the rocker posts...

Your right, it is a good easy fix that suits the purpose.

Youve discovered the joy of fixing a car yourself, brilliant! Youve also discovered how "easy" old cars can be, and yet, how tricky it is.

Ive had to at times grind down ricker bridges on 202s, use lash caps on valve stems (little spacers between rocker arm and valve) and i went through 3sets of lifter in my worked 202 trying to stop a solitary tap. It failed. Lobes are good, adjustable roller rockers, preload correct, etc etc, just a mystery lifter noise.

Anyhoo, sounds like yours, sadly, is dying. If you want to tackle it yourself then the old Holden donks are perfect for learning on, but beware, like this job, it CAN be more tricky than it seems.

Get a compression test done, good indicator of general health. You might get away with new cam and lifters.

Or else, throw $2500 at a mild rebuild with new cam, shaved heads and unleaded seats, then enjoy fresh, spritely motoring.

"Silly modern cars"