Hydraulic Tappets

[tozerman]

My S3c is starting to sound a bit tappety, now Haynes manual tell you how to adjust the rockers for cars with these tappets but the cologne V6 manual via the www.fordscorpio.co.uk web site say do not adjust the rockers for any reason! has anyone ever adjusted their hydraulic tappets ?
Cheers.....Tony..

[tvrgit]

does it DEFINITELY have hydraulic tappets? Reason I ask is that I know of at least one S4C that doesn't!

ETA Mine does, and the only time it has ever been "tappety" was when I put a different oil in it at a service. I drained the oil and put in better stuff and it wasn't tappety no more!

ETA (2) I did mistakenly adjust my tappets the first time I serviced the car, and had to reset them using the "take up play then nip them up a turn and a half" technique.

Edited by tvrgit on Monday 8th November 13:54

[Road2Ruin]

You can't adjust hydraulic tappets. It may be the oil or worse still worn tappets! It may even be that you don't have hydraulic tappets but common reports say the S3c does and the S3 doesn't. I don't belive there is any way of telling though from taking the rocker covers off, so beware.

[tvrgit]

Road2Ruin said:

You can't adjust hydraulic tappets.

Yes you can, and a right aarrsse of it you can make of it too!

There is a method to reset them, which does work - as I said above, it's something like "take up the slack, only just - then preload by tightening a turn and a half". I'd have to find my previous posts on that to be certain.

Agree with the rest of your post though - as I said, the wrong oil (even new in my case) can make a difference.

Another thought for the OP - are you sure it's the tappets? I had a slight exhaust leak right at the manifold flange, and it doesn't half sound tappety (I've had all the bad luck, me!)

[Gerald-TVR]

This might help!

[tvrgit]

On another thread jimed said:

As far as I know the early S3C's had hydraulic lifters (mine has them) but I have a document that says TVR advised that from VIN S........MD011340 the engines used were as per the standard S3 which had solid lifters. It then goes on to say that the S4C should have the same engine as the later S3Cs with solid lifters. That means that the later S3Cs and the S4Cs do need the tappets adjusting.

That would appear to confirm that not all the S3Cs or S4Cs had hydraulic tappets. That was why I asked the op if he was sure that his car did.

I have the method for re-setting hydraulic tappets at home - I'll check and confirm it later.

[jimed]

Steve Heath books website has the information that Andrew quotes from above; so go to www.tvrbooks.co.uk then at LHS select 'book updates' and then again select 'S series' and the resultant page under 'S series V6 engine tappets' tells you the engines that (acording to TVR) had the hyd tappets and also how to set them.
Jim

[Stew Mc]

As Jimed said.
I have his old S3C and adjusted the hydraulic tappits as stated in his link when I took the heads off earlier this year. Runs a treat.
Stew.

[tvrgit]

jimed said:

Steve Heath books website has the information that Andrew quotes from above; so go to www.tvrbooks.co.uk then at LHS select 'book updates' and then again select 'S series' and the resultant page under 'S series V6 engine tappets' tells you the engines that (acording to TVR) had the hyd tappets and also how to set them.
Jim

I've just checked that link against info I sent someone else a year ago, and that's exactly the procedure as I thought I remembered earlier - take up clearance then screw in a turn and a half.

If your car DOES have hydraulic tappets, that's them set.

If it doesn't, you've just buggered all your compressions on all cylinders.

Be VERY sure first!

[tozerman]

Thanks for all your help chaps, have just checked the link to the Steave Heath update and my car has a vin number "3" cars higher than the one mentioned which should therefore indicate my car has solid lifters, I think the way forward to check is if my car has no valve clearances then it has hydraulic lifters and if the clearances are pretty much what is specified for the solid lifter cars then it will indeed have solid lifters (if that makes sense). Will check it out as soon as I can and post how I get on.
Cheers.....Tony..

[motomatchless]

Hi there, I also have the noisy (tappets) engine.
This site is really a gold mine,I was thinking about how to solve that problem on my car and whaow!! the answer is right here, thanks to every S fan .
My engine is not the original one on my car engine type is BRC or B4C or BRG (difficult to read)
What numbers do you have on your engines????
I found this on the net,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lorANZ1Tptw
and this link comfirms your method to adjust hydraulic tappets.
http://www.nzmustang.com/TechData/tappetadjust.htm
Regards,
Chris.

Edited by motomatchless on Monday 8th November 19:49

Edited by motomatchless on Monday 8th November 20:02

[DJ8226]

If unsure best to let someone who knows do it for you rather than bu**er up a good engine. Sadly my dad(motor mechanic) isn't here any more as he earned his living on 80's and 90's Fords and he would be the jewel in the crown for such problems. He never got to see my car either, but he would of probably of said - What on earth have you bought that for? to which my reply would be so you can help me fix it! As I went for different career path my knowledge is limited. So its a Ford specialist for me. Good luck with the DIY adjustment your braver than me