1973 Cadillac Fleetwood

1973 CADILLAC FLEETWOOD
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CADILLAC DON73
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Engine Mechanical problem
1973 Cadillac Fleetwood V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 88k miles
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I just got this 73 fleetwood out in Arkansas it had not been run in 10 years I got it to run ,it runs smooth no skip but makes a real lot of upper end noise(ichanged the oil)is it lifters or oil pump ?I don't want to run it for fear of causing more damage Thanks[img:2c962bb19e]http://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/221652_Aria_110_1.jpg[/img:2c962bb19e]
Aug 1, 2008 at 9:46 AM
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BUDDYCRAIGG
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I love old fleetwoods.
They are the flagship of GM cars, there is nothing finer.

Ok, if you are concerned about oil pressure we need to put a mechanical gauge on it.
You can buy a oil pressure test gauge for about $25 or you can buy a cheap oil pressure gauge kit that you would install in the dash for about $15.
I say buy the kit and just use it as a testing device, without installing it.

After you verify that you have about 10psi for every 1000rpm you know your oil pressure is good.

About the valve train noise.
If the engine is sludged up and oil isn’t getting to the top end. Well…
There is no good news.
Take the oil fill cap off and with the engine running, hopefully you can see oil flowing across the rocker arms or oil circulating in a pool on the top of the head.

If the noise is from collapsed lifters, you have two options.
Put in new cam and lifters.
Or
Drive the car and hope the lifters pump up. If they don’t then you put in new cam an lifters.
I’ve seen lifters, (hydraulic valve lash adjusters) have to be driven at highway speeds for 30 minutes before they would pump up.
You don’t have anything to loose. So take a chance.
Dec 9, 2008 at 11:39 PM