97 Monte Carlo lifter prob
 

My Monte Carlo started making lifter noses.Click, click, only at start up. After i let it warm up it goes away.
What is envolved in changing them?
How much? Or should i just let it warm up and drive it to get a new car and get rid of it?

Don't worry about it too much. Could be piston slap, too. The 3100 V6 (which I'm just assuming you have) is notorious for that. If it's slap, it's not really a concern. Lifters could be, because eventually, if it collapses, they one cylinder becomes non-functional. I wouldn't replace them until you have to. They would be a pain to change, because you have to pull the intake manifolds, valve covers, and all of the rocker arms and pushrods.

Uhh, good diagnosis but piston slap should definitely be looked at.

how many miles on the engine? was it well maintained? (oil changed every 3k miles or so?) try putting a can of marvel mystery oil in at the next change. if it's a sticking lifter, it may free it up. sometimes, sludge will clog the lifter and stop it from filling up with oil. the mystery oil can clean out the sludge and let the lifter work again.

ive got a 76 Monte, i love it, its off topic, but have you heard anything about this new MC that chevy is planing next? i heard it will again be a v8 with RW drive, i cant wait to see it

If they are going to do that they have finally pulled there heads out of there asses!

Not necesarrily. Some cars come from the factory with a good amount of piston slap. I know the heavy line tech at one of the Chrysler dealerships around here, and apparently the Jeep I6 is notorious for it. If they get a complaint about it, they bring it in, fire it up. If it sounds like slap, and its low mileage, they pretty much tell them right then that its slap, it happens, and to ignore it unless it gets worse.

And assuming that 3100 really is known for slap ( i got no idea, so im just running with DE137's diagnosis), then chevy probably knows about it, and has determined that while annoying, it doesn't really do any harm, and lets em roll off of the factory floor like that.

Just out of curiosity, what is the mileage?

What exact engine is it?

I was told that Jeep noise was caused by the timing gear cover acting like a speaker. Some sound just like a diesel, but nothing is wrong.

Yeah, the 2.8/3.1/3100/3.4DOHC/3400 V6 engines from GM all experience piston slap. There is a TSB on it for customers that are anal about it, and a dealer will replace the pistons, and I think the wrist pins. But, not for free. GM knows about it, and honestly, I don't think I've ever heard of one of these motors breaking because of piston slap. It's not THAT bad. It does sound nasty though on cold startup, especially if the air temp is wicked cold.

These engines also experience lifter tick, but that's sort of normal with any engine. So long as it goes away, even just mostly once the motor is warm, I wouldn't worry about it.