3.4 engine expert's....

[Ol'Blue]

So this is what's up.

I just did a engine swap in my 99 limited. The heads were completely redone and worked over. Truck is all back together now but I have some noise from the passage side HLA's. So what might be long term issue if noise continues. Machine Shop listen it and looked it over and he stated" I would have no issue driving it, it makes less noise Than my new Ford truck".

At this point 4 set of eyes and opinions have all been at the point of driving it. Let hear what your thoughts are. Also truck had no issues and run great.

Blue

 

[Chim]

I will be the first dummy that asks.. what are HLA's?

 

[techno]

I will be the first dummy that asks.. what are HLA's?

Hydraulic Lash Adjuster. Also called hydraulic lifters or tappets. They are a device that connects the cam shaft to the valves. The hydraulic portion of them is designed to eliminate the need for adjustments over time and also allows for the effects of heating and cooling.
The 3.4 does not use this design.

Usually, non hydraulic lifters make a ticking noise when they have too much clearance.

 

[JBurt]

Can you post a recording of the noise?

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'm no engine expert, but these engines have a huge tolerance of any engine variables. I've yet to ever hear of the cams having problems, you'd have to do something pretty terrible to even begin to mess them up.

I'm also in the persuasion to put it out of your head and drive happy my friend.

 

[Ol'Blue]

The only issue I have is that my new engine just burned out the cats from the new headers lol. The cats have 260,000 on them. They don't like the new heat from the TRD headers.

 

[Yoder68]

So this is what's up.

I just did a engine swap in my 99 limited. The heads were completely redone and worked over. Truck is all back together now but I have some noise from the passage side HLA's. So what might be long term issue if noise continues. Machine Shop listen it and looked it over and he stated" I would have no issue driving it, it makes less noise Than my new Ford truck".

At this point 4 set of eyes and opinions have all been at the point of driving it. Let hear what your thoughts are. Also truck had no issues and run great.

Blue

Does the 5vz-fe even have HLA? I always thought mine just had shims for adjusting valve clearance. But I am certainly not a 3.4 expert. Hopefully one chimes in here.

 

[alumarine]

I didn't think these motors had hydraulic lifters (never heard of them referred to as HLA's).
I thought they had solid tappets.

 

[W4R123]

I just rebuilt the top end on my 99 and the valve clearances were adjusted by shimming. If it's ticking extremely loud then adjust the valves. If you can't hear it with the windows up then forget it and just drive the truck.

Sent from my SM-G900W8 using Tapatalk

 

[bugman-74]

I always thought mine just had shims for adjusting valve clearance.

Yep, shims. At 140k miles on my 5VZ I only adjusted 1 valve (it was out .002"), - I could've probably just left it alone.

 

[Ol'Blue]

Per Alldata

Intake 0.13-0.23 mm
Exhaust 0.27-0.37 mm

It is not loud but I can still hear it. When I close the hood and the windows are up I can't hear it at all only when I open the hood and listen for it.

Blue

 

[4Reak Show]

Pretty sure it's solid lifters in the 3.4's as well. I'm heavily under the assumption you're fretting based on new engine...but by no means ignore it. Just drive it and pay attention to it getting worse.

These engines are inherently noisy from my experiences. And damn near bomb-proof to boot. I've heard different ticking and tapping at various times in various environments and none seem to be an issue at all.

Hope it works out and good luck

 

[Manic]

So I'm guessing you had a shop assemble the heads? Ask for a copy of what they shimmed the valves to. like everyone else is saying, there aren't lifters on the 3.4, the bucket holds the shim, sits on top of the valve, the cam sits right on top of the bucket.

If the shop didn't keep records of the valve lashing, then pull the covers and check the tolerance's yourself. If they're a in spec, is that what is causing the noise? Could be a keeper wasn't set all the way and has backed out.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Bucket & Shim design on the vehicle not hydraulic lash adjusters. It's possible they were not shimmed correctly; I'm with [MENTION=143110]Manic[/MENTION] ask the shop if they can send you a copy of the shims/clearances recorded when rebuilding.

Worst case scenario if it bothers you that much and you think it's the valve lash you can always pop the covers off and measure them.

 

[Ol'Blue]

I had a machine shop do the heads. I got them back ready to go pretty much. All I had to do it set the cams up and put them on. I didn't even think about this and checking there work. I should have because the sub gear was off and I took them back to have that issue fixed. So with that being said I'm either going to monitor it or take the valve cover off and see what one is off I guess because I did all the work myself.

Blue