Hello:

We have a 1971 350 olds that we rebuild the heads on then replaced all the gaskets. Now we are getting a lifter noise on the passenger side head. Looking at it closer we saw a lifter that was loose and such we tighten it down. This did not resolve the issue. Any suggestions on what we should do next?

Thanks

 

Do a search on setting the valvetrain. There has to be a thread on this subject. To tell you what to do would fill a book and it has been discussed here ad nauseam.

 

A bit of detail is missing
stock or adjustable rockers for example.
I am guessing adjustable, or it could not have been loose and then snugged.

 

#7 heads with stock rockers

 

I am guessing stock non adjustable valve train. When you did your heads I'm assuming you put a fiber head gasket on there. This moves the head farther out from the block, with worn rockers and perches, it leads to noise. You may need to replace that perch and rocker assy which can be had at your local parts store. It can also be a collapsed or concave lifter. The collapsed lifter is usually dirt or something that got in there when you disassembled everything. A concave lifter needs to be replaced.

I would also make sure that that oil is squirting on all the rockers as this would create noise also.

 

Was the cam broken in ? pre lubed ? On my current new engine i heard chatter the first few seconds it ran and i pre lubed it. But im with what oldcutlass said if you went with the replacement head gasket it's betwee .022 give or take thicker than the factory shim add that to worn out stock rockers and it's probably enought to make some noise. run it with the valve covers off it wont make a mess like most think this will let you see how they are working and you can pin point the noise down to which cylinder etc. etc. I have checked my rockers in the past this way.

 

Like I said, it could fill a book.

 

engine is not new

 

ahh you mentioned rebuild and i thought new cam etc.

 

If you can identify which lifter/rocker is making the noise then Oldscutlass' advice is spot on. You might also replace the push rod since these can wear and put slop in the valve train. The push rod might also be bent. Buying a new lifter, pushrod and rocker assembly wouldn't cost too much and would hopefully cure the problem.

 

X2 on running it with the valve covers off first before you tear into things. I use an old set of valve covers I cut a rectangular out of the tops to keep everything clean.

 

I am having almost the same issue. I have a 71 with the orig 350 rocket However my motor was rebuilt in 2009 but not run much until October of 2010. It is hard for me to say but I noticed a tick almost immediately coming from passenger side. I removed the valve cover and noticed a lot of play between the solid stock rocker and the push rod. I tried tightening it down but it was tight. I assume it is a collapsed lifter. As none of the others are that way. Am I wrong in this? Could this be a case of worn out rocker? I compared it with the next one and it seems the same. I am not an engine builder or that experienced in major engine fixes, I am just handy. But I don't want to open this thing up and drop in new lifters and have this problem again. Should I order new roller rockers for this thing??? Anyone? I am also a bit nervous about tackling this and not knowing how to adjust this stuff. I thought I would just replace the lifters and bolt everything back up being as there is not adjustment in the rockers themselves. Anyone that can help........ please!!!! I don't wanna f... this up and I just want this thing to sound and run like it should. Thanks Scott

 

When they rebuilt your engine did they replace the rockers and perches? I t may be as simple as that. Rockers and perches can be bought as a set through your local auto parts store and they are not very expensive. Isolate it to the noisy ones and replace as necessary. It could also be dirt in one of your lifters. Did you have a lifter and cam change with your rebuild?

 

yeah it was a new thumper cam. The lifters would have been changed for sure, but i've been doing some research and I think the rockers should have been replaced and the push rods with ones meant to be used with that cam. I think the rockers might be the issue. The ones in the motor are the stock solid non adjustable rocker arms. I'm having a shop look at it on Thursday because it has went beyond my comfort zone.

 

The stock rockers and perches are still available at the parts house. I would just pull the valve covers and take a peak to see which are making noise. They may just be loose mounting bolts. It's a simple repair to replace them.

 

I'm horrible at diagnosing noise problems. I once checked all my rockers to find out they were fine and the tick was only coming from the passenger side Hmmm ? New rockers and rod's later Cutting up valve covers the tick was still there! Now WTF! I kept wonder why I didn't hear it with the cover off so I thought the rocker was hitting the cover. Lots of useless money later I come to find out it's the PCV vale not seated in the valve cover making the perfect tapping sound Just one more easily over looked thing it could be.