Dauntless lifter noise

[TroyaCantrell]

So I have the Dauntless Buick 225 V6 V6 in the CJ and I have at least 1 lifter making some noise. I think that the exhaust valve on that cylinder is not opening, like the hydraulic lifter is collapsed.

From totally cold if you start it up the chamber of the intake manifold on the cylinder get too hot to touch in seconds where the others do not. My assumption is the the exhaust valve is not opening or at least all the way. This is pushing exhaust back into the intake.

So first does that make sense?

Second can I get the lifters out and then back in by just taking the rocker assembly off and fishing them out through the whole where the push rob goes or does this mean the heads have to come off?

Heads coming off just adds a whole new layer of issues. I don't thing they have been off in 50 years.

Any other suggestions are welcome. I have tried sea-foam and marvel mystery oil hoping they were just dirty but no luck.

 

[mriplaybass]

I have not taken our Dauntless Buick 225 V6 apart yet, but we have rebuilt the 1974 231 odd fire in our 59 CJ5 . The lifters will not come out through the push rod holes. You do not, however, have to remove the heads, only the intake manifold. With the intake off,(and rocker covers) remove the spark plugs so that you can turn the engine more easily. Now you can slowly rotate the engine and watch the rockers, lifters, valve stems, etc. You should be able to better evaluate what is going on.