So, maybe a two part question...

On the 3L 6 engine (1998 4WD) all the videos say pull the lifter out with a magnet. Our lifters look like they are held in with a retaining clip of some type. We can see two metal wires going across the lifter at opposite sides. Are these lifters removable from the top or do we need to remove the head? We were unable to use a magnet, which leads to the next, bigger problem and question.

We bought a lifter extraction tool, and broke the lifter while pulling on it. It looks like the clip mentioned above also came out and is bent out of shape. We still cannot remove the remaining portion of the lifter with either a magnet or the tool.

What is our best next step? I'm not above taking it to a garage if the work is beyond us, but I'd like to go with some knowledge in hand.

thanks

As an addendum, the lifter does not look broken in the sense of jagged metal, but a top portion did come off that's about 1/2" tall and the rest is still in the tube.

 

Post a picture or several of what you are dealing with, it may help others see it and provide some feedback.

 

Top piece of lifter and what's left of its clip.


Bottom side of lifter


Good lifter in place


Remains of bad lifter.

Looking at parts houses, the lifter assembly includes the outside tube in the 3rd picture, so we should have been able to pull out the entire unit, The clip is holding a center portion in place, but the entire circular assembly should have come out.

 

Turns out the V6 has a bracket that holds the lifters in place. To get to it, we had to remove the intake manifold.

There is a sheet-metal bracket holding down the lifter guides. Once those came out, the lifters came right out.

Below is a sample picture pulled from another post on this forum. The bracket is held down with two bolts, and it holds down double-wishbone shaped lifter guides. These are partially around each lifter in the picture.