I bought another one!!!

[TJ's Chevy]

Originally Posted by 66Submarine

I saw you said one was leaking coolant, but there's no point replacing a bad head gasket if the engine is toast.

To be honest, I'm not sure how much of an expert they are if they suggested that based on the fact it was a solid lifter. A hydraulic lifter can collapse/bleed down/stick/whatever and make the valvetrain clatter, but a solid lifter obviously can't--there is nothing to compress and create excess clearance. It's hydraulic lifters that are known for issues, not solids.

If it was a valve being held off the seat you should also hear the offending rocker arm tapping from the excess clearance, and you said it wasn't the rocker arm.

Like I said, in the clip it didn't really sound like a lifter to me anyway.

JMO, but I'd still look into it.

Yes one is leaking coolant, but just barely. Its leaking more air out the top than anything but once the engine gets hot enough the coolant bubbles out a little. Nothing major, just a blow gasket. After more inspection I also considered that some crud fell through the plug hole when I put the new plugs in. I blew around the area but its a high possibility I missed some crud and it fell it. I did also look into the cylinder with a flashlight and saw some carbon on the piston so, when I find my darn compression tester I'll do a test and make sure all is OK then if that checks out replace that blown gasket and go from there. Will probably drop the pan and make sure my crank is all good as well. Probably drain the oil again and make sure I don't have any little pieces of metal floating around. Either way we'll fix her up. That'll ol tub ain't gonna stop me from using her! lol