Lifter issue.. Help guys!!!

[530stangs_22]

hey guys im looking into getting a 97 cobra for a really good deal but the owner says there is a lifter issue. i havent seen it yet. gonna go look tomorrow. he said it drives fine still. if i do decide to get it how much am i looking at to get this issue fixed? thanks guys a quick response would be awesome and greatly appreciated! :beer:

 

[White96svt]

It really depends on if you do the work or not. If you do the work yourself, it won't be too expensive as lifters aren't that expensive. If a shop does it, you looking at adding labor to that. Depending on their hourly rate, it could be a few hundred dollars plus the parts. One thing you will want to look into is a possible guide issue. These motors are somewhat known for having guides wear and they would cause an audible tick similar to a lifter. If that's your problem, then that's a whole different can of worms. The head would have to come off and bent sent to a machine shop to replace the guides. Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[CzchMex]

It really depends on if you do the work or not. If you do the work yourself, it won't be too expensive as lifters aren't that expensive. If a shop does it, you looking at adding labor to that. Depending on their hourly rate, it could be a few hundred dollars plus the parts. One thing you will want to look into is a possible guide issue. These motors are somewhat known for having guides wear and they would cause an audible tick similar to a lifter. If that's your problem, then that's a whole different can of worms. The head would have to come off and bent sent to a machine shop to replace the guides. Hope this helps. Good luck.

Guides on a head?... I only know of the chain guides in the front. How would the guides on a head need to be machined to fix the tick?

Oh and I have a tick. Yep it runs fine but it is annoying as :cuss: I plan on doing the work myself and the parts aren't that much. Lash adjusters, or you lifters, will run about $300 for all 32. The timing components will range from $100-500 depending on what all you need to change (usually not much). It is just a day or two of work if you do it yourself I hear.

 

[CJK440]

OP, how many miles? Like was said, a tick on these motors could be more than lifters. Lifters (lash adjusters) are cake to R&R compared to any other issues.

Czch, he means all 32 valve guides. Fixed either by new guides or O/S valves (if they are offered). Either way for a B head, probably cheaper to upgrade or find another pair.

 

[svtcobralover]

Depending on the price of the car is what would make or break me. I sold my 96 cobra fully built with 03 cobra seats for $2800 because it had a bad tick. The price on all the timing components was $500. I pulled the motor and took it to my firends shop but didn't want the risk of fixing the problem and then it could be a bearing issue. So I sold it. My best recommendation to you is if you buy this and the tick is more than what the seller thinks it is, be prepared to throw $3k easy if you want to fix it further.

 

[530stangs_22]

Thanks for the replies guys. The car has 150k on it. He posted the ad for 3200 but I talked him down to 2700. I will be taking it to a shop probably.(if I get it) Don't have much experience digging into mod motors and don't want to cause anymore damage than there already is. So if I do get it I'm looking at like a grand in parts and labor?

 

[White96svt]

Guides on a head?... I only know of the chain guides in the front. How would the guides on a head need to be machined to fix the tick?

Oh and I have a tick. Yep it runs fine but it is annoying as :cuss: I plan on doing the work myself and the parts aren't that much. Lash adjusters, or you lifters, will run about $300 for all 32. The timing components will range from $100-500 depending on what all you need to change (usually not much). It is just a day or two of work if you do it yourself I hear.

Like CJK440 said, I'm referring to the Valve guides. They are known to be an issue. If it is an issue with a guide, the heads will have to be pulled off and the guides will need to be replaced. That can get expensive. If it's in good condition, 3K isn't a bad deal. Pull the motor, build it, boost it, and have fun!! :rockon:

 

[CJK440]

$2700 and it runs? Grab it.

I just bought a 150k mile one with a seized motor for $2400.

 

[CzchMex]

Sucks that I spent a lot more than that for my 61k cobra that developed a tick after I bought it. I hope it's not guides then