Sticky Lifter solution(s)??

[David Weiss <dzweiss@worldnet.att.net>]

SOP8920@Siena.edu (Osman Parvez) wrote:

>  How difficult is the procedure of replacing the sticking valves? Is 
>  this procedure one that a novice shouldn't attempt?

BTDT (novice changing lifters on 89 200Q).  On a scale of 1=change oil,
2=brakes, 10=rings (haven't BTDT on 10, and there's probably a 20 on
this scale, but I don't know what it is) it's maybe a 5.  If I recall,
there are three PITAs here.  First is getting the cam back in when the
engine is at TDC, while using the torque sequence that Bentley doesn't
give for that engine (extrapolate from the 3B); using that sequence,
it's hard to push some of the valves down.  I got all the bearing caps
started, then torqued.  Set the back of the cam in carefully first to
mate up w/ the distrib.  Second and third PITAs are in torqueing the cam
bolt, because it's a little hard to brace the cam pulley w/o tearing
something up, and because there's limited clearance for a ratchet/torque
wrench unless you remove the IC, which requires removing the grill,
which requires removing the chrome trim that runs across the front.  You
will also have to reset the ignition timing, first drilling out the
blind rivet on the distrib bolt cover, no big deal.  There's probably a
way to set the cam back in so you don't have to reset the timing, but
that would take some advance planning...

I originally had this pegged as a 4, but on further reflection increased
its difficulty rating.  BTW, my lifters got noisy after changing to
synthetic-- I didn't know about the short change routine.

HTH,
--Dave Weiss
  '89 200Q DOA 
  '91 V8 5-spd
  '93 90CS UnQ