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3.8L lifter tick, need to know what bore size to buy.

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Old Apr 6, 2026 | 05:23 PM
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Default 3.8L lifter tick, need to know what bore size to buy.

My passenger side lifters have started to tick, and with no other mode of transport it's a real PITA. I don't have the door jamb sticker as it's faded to white, but it's a 2009 model, I have a gut feeling it is small bore tappets, the .842. I know it's the middle or firewall cylinder so can I get away with 4 lifters or should I just bite it for 6? I don't want to have to get in there twice, and I'm able to get 8 lifters for a little under a hundred bucks on rockauto. I've not gone into that side but what else could it be if not lifters. It happens only under acceleration or when idling, not under deccel.

I'm mechanically inclined, but hydraulic valvetrains are somewhat of a first for me.
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Old Apr 7, 2026 | 09:59 AM
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I can't answer your actual question, but if it were Me, I would go ahead and do all the lifters while I was in there. The others are likely on their out too and you've done 80% of the work to get to them. And your head gasket will come with both gaskets. So you're a set of studs and a set of lifters away from. It. Again, just my 0.02
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Old Apr 7, 2026 | 10:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Spike0180
I can't answer your actual question, but if it were Me, I would go ahead and do all the lifters while I was in there. The others are likely on their out too and you've done 80% of the work to get to them. And your head gasket will come with both gaskets. So you're a set of studs and a set of lifters away from. It. Again, just my 0.02
I would normally agree, but my budget is barely enough for MAYBE 8 lifters on thier own, cheapest I could find. I'm a college student and this thing has already needed one rebuild.
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