Hydraulic Lifters on 92 Q 45

[mz101]

Hi All & Q45Tech,

I picked up a 92 Q45 last November and really enjoy driving the car. However, it developed a knock about 2 months ago that I could not get rid off despite repeated engine flushes. So, I took apart the noisy head figuring the noise was coming from a collapsed or lazy valve spring or a faulty HLA. I planned to change the valve springs and inspect and replace the HLA's as needed.

I had no problem changing the springs. Good news - there was no sludge at all anywhere and all of the HLA's on the intake side of the head were in fine shape. However, as I removed those on the exhaust side, I discovered that the little black rings, (seals I expect) were cracked and would disintegrate in my hands each time I removed an HLA. In all other respects the exhaust side HLA's appear in good shape.

The million dollar question is therefore, does anyone know whether the HLA seals can be replaced and where can I get them? Failing this I guess I'm stuck with replacing at least 8 HLA's.

Also, does anyone know the torque setting for bolting down the cam rods?

Comments please.

Thanks in advance, guys.

:help

[DAEDALUS]

To my recollection, they cannot be replaced; you get to buy brand new lifters which, I think, are around USD 50. I wonder, though, how necessary they are. The fit is precise, though not an inteference. I doubt much oil is flowing past the lifter bodies. Do you think the seals were doing much good before you removed them? By cam rods, do you mean bearing caps? They're torqued to 12-14 N*m (9-10 ft-lbs). Welcome! I hope all this work solves the problem.

[mz101]

Thanks very much for your response. I suspected I could do without them but am scared s***less of having to take everything apart again. I guess I'll have to decide how much I really want to spend the $400.00 soon.

Re the bearing caps. I figured the torque setting should not be too high but it was such a pain taking them off (broken T30 bit and all) that I guessed a whole lot more than 10 lbs. Good thing I asked. You just saved me from really overtorquing those caps.

Thanks Daedalus