Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) CVH engine noise

My newly acquired 1985 4/4 Roadster is fitted with a 1.6L Ford CVH engine. When the engine is cold and in the lower rev ranges under light load it sounds like a bucket of bolts. I’m told this is caused by the hydraulic tapets and is a ‘feature’ of the engine. The car has just 28,000 miles on the clock in 36 years. It performs and is good to drive but that sound is annoying and disconcerting. Oil pressure and temperature are OK. Any suggestions on how to minimise/eliminate the noise.

When was the oil last changed? Hydraulic tappets can be loud but usually only if the car is cold and hasn't been used for a long time. The right clean oil should help.

I have same model and engine and has 69k on the clock. The CVH does make more noise because of the hydraulic tappets while still cold. I guess if the oil pressure and temperature are ok you should not worry. I acquired mine in 2016 and have been driving it for approx 3000 miles per year since and had no issues. Does yours smoke while still cold on idle?

Also has it been unused for a long period before you bought it?

Found this on "https://passionford.com/forum/ford-escort-rs-turbo/378935-how-noisy-is-a-cvh.html"

"Low oil pressure will cause tapping, sticking lifter maybe or a heavily worn cam, also slight piston slap is often misdiagnosed as tapping lifters/cam."

hope this helps;)

Not sure how applicable this is to you but sticking hydraulic lifters can be washed in acetone once removed to clean off the 'varnish' from age and oil.


K

We've run Fiesta's as daily hacks since the early 80's, on the CVH engined ones I used to drive round the block with a tin of Wynns engine flush in at oil change time, then when up to temp drain the oil & refill with new

A decent engine flush and oil change might help the tappets to free up and sound less vocal. The old CVH engines are very fond of Cambelts - a bit off topic i know but worth doing if its not been done very recently. From memory its needed every 3 or 4 years.

My 10 year old 4/4 sport is the same and has been from new - when it warms up a bit it`s fine.

I had an 1986 4str with the cvh bought with 36k on her was very similar to what you have reported (replaced CAM belt straight away), I was told by connoisseurs of the CVH (ford guys) that is was fairly normal. I changed the oil regularly flushing with crappy stuff, then the reportedly good stuff. Had many jaunts to the South of France, Spain, Italy in her (though that would be a stretch for you). I did think about swapping the engine for Zetec however at some stage I refurbished the weber put a S/S exhaust on her and a KN'; didn’t hear a thing after that bar the ping ping of the fuel pumps more often!
Didn’t need a four seater once the other mortgage finished Uni and left us. Then got the Roadster, Whoopee!
Hope this helps alleviate some worries.

Thank you all for your responses. They are interesting and very helpful.
When I bought the car in March I ‘zero based it’ and gave it a service, grease and lube change and filters. Oil is Mobile HP 10w - 50w. The cam belt was changed by the previous owner. From your replies it would seem there is nothing to be concerned about as the car performs well.

Not sure how much a fresh set of 8 would cost.

I remember in the early 70's carefully removing all 16 from the Chrysler 383 in my Jensen CV8 following an annoying tappet noise at low revs. I painstakingly stripped each one down, cleaned all parts in carb cleaner and re-assembled. The noise when I first fired up was terrifying to the extent I shut it down and phoned a friend. He suggested just sticking with it as all the lifters needed to pump up. Sure enough it eventually quietened. Drove to meet friends down the pub in near silence. Bliss, until the return journey when the same tick tick noise returned