Been hearing this ticking noise for a little while now. Only starts ticking after RPM's above 3,000 and tends to stop afterward. Pulled valve covers and checked for loose rockers after finding none loose re-set all the lifters pre-load. Still had ticking, thought it might be the crossover plug but this time pulled the rockers to check the lifters. There's at least 6 of them that are stuck as in I can't move the pushrods when I press down on them. The motor's been sitting over night so I figure the lifters shouldn't be pumped up anymore. I've heard about putting all kinds of oils in the motor and run it to loosen the lifters but not sure if good idea when I have more than one bad.

I guess I'll be pulling the intake. I'm I on the right track? Thanks.

Should add that I thought it was exhaust leaks so I changed the header gasket and collector gasket but didn't solve the problem. They needed to be changed anyway.

 

Do you have roller rockers in there? Some of the cam/ lifter co's recommend and extra 1/4 turn on the adjustment.

Rislone or marvel mystery oil has always worked for me to for sticky lifters. I also dump a pint in my fuel ocaisionally.

You might also try raising the idle up to about 2000 rpm and pour a pint of water down the carb very slowly. The engine must be at operating temp. It will steam clean any deposites that might be on your valve stems.

 

I got Harland Sharp rockers, the 1:7 to 1 type. I turned the poly locks 1/2 turn after zero lash. The lifters in question, the pistons or plungers are stuck at the top, they won't push in. I had taken them apart for this build because the first build had metal in the oil. I think they've been bad from the get go.

I'll try the mystery oil and see what happens. I don't want to remove the intake if I don't have to.

Thanks.

 

I believe alot of the roller rocker setups with really agressive cams are a bit noisey.

 

From what I gather, this cam and lifters were in a motor that had metal through it?
If you didn't get the lifters on the coresponding lobes, you could be wiping the cam!
I'd be replacing the lifters with new, if the cam seems alright, and check it ASAP!

 

The noise is quite loud. It's not present at idle, once the second carb starts to come online around 3k rpm the noise starts it then eventually goes away.


The lifters were put back in the correct spot on my second build. I took them apart to clean them. I'm going to just pull the intake just to make sure everything looks good I guess. May remove the crossover plugs also cause I bet they're rattling.

Would a lifter that's stuck cause the noise you think? It's acting like a solid cam lifter in a way.

 

those noises will drive a man insane lol my olds makes ticking noise occasionally like 75% of the time it sounds fine but every once in a while when i start it up the lifters will tick at first and then quiet down. i bought a product called valve medic but havent tried it yet. if its any good i will let you know

 

Are you saying it occurs during acceleration/under a load while in gear?

 

Yes pretty much that. You maybe leaning towards detonation. I'm running Cam II fuel with a little pump gas mixed. Maybe detonation but it seems more of a mechanical sound. If I let up on the gas it's still noisy for a bit. Come to think of it it did this on my first build but it's worst now. I just got the intake off and I'm going to check the lifters.

 

What's the estimated compression ratio? How much timing are you running? Total? When?

 

About 10.75 to 1, 14 degrees initial with 35 total. When, no idea. I didn't mess with the distributor's factory setting which is set at the slowest advance at roughly 4K rpm is when total kicks in. Haven't verified with timing light.

 

Pulled one of the bad lifters and it wouldn't budge. Piston has corrosion on the bottom.

 

Dan, what'd you find with the intake off? I have a solid cam and I don't hear anything like that. I would imagine if the lifter was truly stuck at the top AND you set it to zero lash plus 1/4 turn it wouldn't make ANY noise, it would probably bend a pushrod. IDK, kinda interested to know what you found.

Steve

 

Dang, posted while I was writing. Is the inside of the lifter housing good? If you don't want to replace the complete lifter (new lifter old cam) get the same kind and rebuild it with new internals.

Steve

 

Inside looks okay. I'm hoping this is what's causing the noise. i got 6 that are jammed. Can't think of anything else. God I hated removing the intake, it was sealed well with no leaks. Going to be harder to mount in the car.

I'm thinking that maybe at the higher rpm's the lifters move but then they stick down and that would be noisy.

I think I'm going to buy a new set of lifters. The insides of the others have the same crap on them. I'm not going to mess with them.