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Weird Ticking - Not Cams!

new 11/02/2003, updated 11/03/2003


Got a call from a cam weld customer from around 6 months ago today. He said he had a "Weird Ticking" sound coming from his engine and held up the cell phone for "Diagnosis". I clearly heard something that wasn't right but it sounded like an exhaust leak to me on first guess. He went to a friendly muffler shop and the tech correctly informed him that the sound was not exhaust related and in fact was coming from the topside of the motor.
He called me back and asked if I would have a look at his car to which I said yes. One hour later he was in my driveway with a SHO that was making a noise unlike anything I've ever heard. (And I've heard my share of cam failures).
I asked him if he had a couple of hours to spare so I could pull the rear valve cover for a closer look and received his blessing.
To make a long story short, He spit out a valve shim on the rear head exhaust and it tore up a tappet bucket on its way out. The tappet was TRASHED. The bore was damaged but the amount of damage was still unknown. 
We hopped in the car and went over to a local Ford dealer who also deals in SVT and Roush products hoping for the best. Turns out that they had done their VERY FIRST SHO shim job LAST WEEK and had 3 spare parts left from their special order. One Tappet and 2 shims. HUH.
Out the door for $31.00 . UNREAL.
Went back home and carefully marked the cam and removed it. Removed the tappet debris and dug out the trash from the tappet bore. Showed the owner what he was up against and proceeded with installing the replacement parts on his request. I expect these parts will wear prematurely, due to the damaged tappet bore, but will last a good while until a new head can be procured.
Measured the other shims while the motor was HOT and ALL were out of spec. Let the motor cool off (Still quite warm) and everything mysteriously shrunk down to acceptable clearances. HUH.
Started the car up and went for a ride. Did not like the way the Diablo chip responded at low throttle tip in but the owner assured me that this was normal. Owner said he frequently redlined the motor "And then some". Perhaps this may have helped shorten the tappet lifespan, perhaps not.
Anyhow, the car now runs as new and the total for parts was a staggering 31.00 and labor was 4 hours.

Regards
Eric Lehmann


Thanks to Eric the SHO is back to its old tricks. Most SHO Owners are great people willing to help another SHO Owner in need. I called Eric about a ticking noise I had developed in the SHO. While on the phone I had him listen to the ticking. I could image what he heard but to make a long story short. I drove over to Eric and what we found he described in the engine repair he wrote. Their is a God I know because its Saturday at 2:00pm and I need a part from Ford that is a special order part. The most I expected was to order the part. Arriving at the parts dept., they have the parts because they just did their first SHO value job and had spare part from it. Next big problem was will the shim stay put after the repair or will the cam spit it out like it did the one  before. Well its Sunday and the SHO is running no ticking. Eric you are the man. If he needs reference ask me. The SHO lives on.
Phoenix98SHO
Vincent Ames 


An e-mail worthy of the "small family" moniker that we go by here on the list. It's one thing to hear Eric tell the story, it's another to have the owner thank him publicly. A refreshing "First post" from someone. :-)

For what it's worth, Eric also was kind enough to help me out last night over the phone with some last-minute (11 1/2th hour) questions about mounting my fog lights. His suggestions, combined with a LOT of scraped knuckles, broken drill bits, and loud expletives, ensured that I got my car out of my friend's garage in time to go to work.

All in all, a class act, just like plenty of other members on this list who would bend over backwards, give their left one, etc. for each other.

Thank you both, Vincent and Eric!

-John Breen III


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