Anyone here know off hand if you can remove/replace the lifters without pulling the heads?

Yes,
They have a slide hammer lifter removal tool that can do it. What the cheapest source for a new set?

How about 5 bucks...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7952680692&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEBI%3AIT

I'm bidding on them, so don't even think about it! ;)

Hows 10 bucks for camshaft sound?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7952640613&category=33614&sspagename=WDVW

While I'm at it, does anyone know if the M44B he has from a non-turbo engine is the same as from at turbo engine?

It must be the viking in me.

Yes,
They have a slide hammer lifter removal tool that can do it. What the cheapest source for a new set?
I don't know why you'd need a slide hammer to pull them, but personally, I'd not suggest doing it with the heads on ESPECIALLY in chassis. While it probably can be done, it's going to be pretty tricky to get down through those narrow windows in the head and there isn't direct access to all lifters...

I had a stuck lifter once. It was replaced head on in the truck.

Maybe what kennedy is saying is that some you can get to and some are pretty innaccesible with the heads on, if I'm reading you right there Ken.

I"m suspicious of the head gaskets anyway, its just so much more work to pull the heads off...again.

If I don't find a problem here, and fix it, then I don't know what I'm going to do with this thing.

couldn't you measure lift on the rockers and know if it's a lifter?

It was the #5 cylinder Btw.

...like roll the engine by hand and measure lift on each individual rocker? Never thought of that, thats a little less work, still got to pull the intake/valve covers/injector lines...

While I'm thinking about it, does anyone know if its possible that the torque converter/flywheel could be the problem? I've been through everything on top/front end of this engine, and haven't found anything wrong and can't shake this bounce at idle.

Drop the inspection cover and turn the flywheel and look for loose/missing hardware.

hmmm....I feel like such a moron, I mean, this is my trade, I've worked on, fixed, tweaked and rebuilt pumps for more trucks than I can count. But this one has been giving me fits that just won't end. I suspected everything from injectors to motor mounts. QM, how about making a trip up here to the deep north so we can put our heads together on this *(&^#$.

Here's what you're looking at for lifter removal with the heads on...

I laid the locator plate for the lifters and the retainer plate over the hole so you can see the difficulty involved here. While I'm sure it has been done, I would not recommend doing this.

Even amarillo's far away.:)

I'd help, though.

Maybe this will help, I took a vid clip of the truck idling...

http://www.geocities.com/pro_gramma/MVI_0665.avi

To me, it sounds like the ECM is fighting something to get idle speed smoothed out and is either losing the battle or not functioning properly.... I wanna hear what you guys think.

Alright, I guess geocities doesn't want to play, anyone have some webspace that can host this vid clip for me for a couple days? I just need to link to it from this thread only, thanks!

Heyyyyy.........ronniejoe..........! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! :cool:

If you have done a compression check - ideally 450psi, but all no lower than 395psi, all equal within ~10psi, which will reveal valve problems or\and cylinder problems - then it is fuel, via PCM.

Lower than that - or way lower than that - pulla-head time...........

You've been playing with the encoder right?

Does it do this when cold or only at operating temp?


Maybe this will help, I took a vid clip of the truck idling...

http://www.geocities.com/pro_gramma/MVI_0665.avi

To me, it sounds like the ECM is fighting something to get idle speed smoothed out and is either losing the battle or not functioning properly.... I wanna hear what you guys think.

I've done lifters with the heads on. Wasn't the easist job but doable. Get a flexible magnet tool with a larger (about 3/8 to 1/2") diameter magnet on the end. The magnet tool makes it a bit easier to fish stuff in and out of the head openings. A small high-intensity light also helps with seeing the lifter areas.

Anyone here know off hand if you can remove/replace the lifters without pulling the heads?
Sure can. Not the most fun thing, but I have done it plenty of times. Get a good strong magnet, and preferably one of those magnetic extensions or a socket with one it it to get the holddown bolts out. then a mag to pick the holddowns up, and one to fish the lifters out. You have to fish some of the lifters to the ends and out there, since they will not come straight out thru the pushrod holes.
brian.

You've been playing with the encoder right?

Does it do this when cold or only at operating temp?
Just re-asking the question...

TDG
I can host it for you.

Cool, how can I send it to you? Do you have any messenger programs?

TDG PM'd you. But of course you'll know that when the silly window pops up... DOH!

I personally did all the lifters on my 1993. 6.5, I will NEVER do that again! words cant explain how hard it was! ME and another mechanic tackled it together; it took us two solid days. you cant use a lifter puller, you have to use a magnet and a mirror, not to mention the guideplates you have to remove from each pair of lifters that you pull. And let us not forget the guideplate bolt that you can drop down into the oil pan! And that is just the short story. Never again will i do it without pulling the heads.