MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Bad Lifter

HELP! Last night I went to check to see if the flapper valve on my Carter was working. So I opened the throttle quickly and watched. It works, but after the engine went back to idle, there was a loud tapping noise from the top of the pass. cyl. bank. Sounded like a bad lifter to me. At the same time, the idle became rough and there is a noticible miss as the engine is reved to 1000-2500 rpm. I shut it down and waited a few hours and started it again. The tapping noise is gone, but the miss remains.

Does this sound like a bad lifter? If so, what are my options? Can I pour something in the crankcase to pump the lifter up, or does this mean replacement? If it has to be replaced, where do I start? I'd like to get this fixed before Stowe (less than 4 weeks.)

Thanks for your help.

Allan
Allan

Hyd lifter? Marvel Mystery Oil might help (it's not like most magic engine elixors - it works).
Glenn

Can't edit...
As far as the miss, maybe a broken valve spring, or a stuck/bent valve. Might want to try a compression test.
Glenn

Allan, It's easy to pull the valve cover off to look for a broken rocker arm or spring.I have broken two rockers at different times.It ran as you describe.The little steel inserts break out of the tip.Just a thought. Mike
Mike Moor

Whatever you do I recommend you not change the lifter as this will often result in a round lobe on the cam. Better to have a persistent tap in an otherwise good running engine than a dead cylinder. Look for other problems first.
Jim
Jim Blackwood

Jim, why would a new lifter round off the cam lobe? The tapping noise is gone, but the miss remains-seems to be the foward cylinder on the pass side. Compression test is next. BTW its a stock Olds 215.

Allan
Allan

This thread was discussed between 23/08/2004 and 25/08/2004

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical BBS now