Questionreplaced head on my 89 lebaron 2.5 turbo with a non crossed drilled 88 2.2 turbo head, at start up the engine is noisy. sounds like a loud lifter rattling. after 5 minutes the noise subsides but the rattle is still there at about 2k rpm. maybe a flat lifter? can they be adjusted?
AnswerHi Joe,
No personal experience on this sort of problem here. But I can tell you a few things to check, based on the '89 Chrysler shop manual:
(1) engine oil level too high or too low. This may cause aerated oil to enter the adjusters and cause them to be spongy
(2) Insufficient running time after rebuilding cylinder head. Low speed running upto 1 hour may be required. During this time turn engine off and let stand for a few minutes before restarting. Repeatthis serveral times after engine has reached normal operating temperature.
(3)Low oil pressure
(4)The oil restrictor pressed into the vertical oil passage to the cylinder head is plugged with debris.
(5)Air ingested into oil due to broken or cracked oil pump pickup
(6) Worn valve guides
(7) Rocker arm ears contacting valve spring retainers
(8) Rocker arm loose (i.e. adjuster stuck or at maximum extension and still leaves lash in the system)
(9) Faulty lash adjuster.
Check for sponginess while still installed in cylinder head. Depress part of rocker arm just over adjuster. Normal
adjusters should feel very firm. Spongy adjusters can be depressed to the bottom position easily.
Remove suspected lash adjusters, pry off retainer cap and disassemble. Do not interchange parts and make sure that care and cleanliness be exercised in the handling of parts.
Clean out dirt and varnish with solvent.
Reassemble with engine oil (don't reuse retainer caps)
Check for sponginess. If still spongy replace with new adjuster.
I also notice that there is a slight difference in the diameter of the pistons of the 2.2 vs. 2.5 turbos:
87.442 vs 87.462 mm but whether that makes a diffence to cause the noise I would not know.
I hope these ideas may help you solve this.
Roland
