Thread: Do you hear the engine "tick"?? Video in this post!

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Here is a video of a pair of rockers close up FYI. Sorry for shakey, it was zoomed up and 1 handed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaZlUXqjtLA

Denny, thanks for the input. I have a few follow up question then:

IF you are correct and low oil pressure causes slow pump up of the lifters, why would the noise continue at a steady RPM and would the oil pressure not "catch up"?

Also, IF you are correct and low oil pressure causes the noise, is this a problem in any way? Is performance or longevity or durability sacrificed?

Thirdly, If you are correct..... Will a high volume oil pump resolve that issue?


Is it possible I have one, a few, or all failed lifters (collapsed spring, plugged port, sticking "wafer")?

Finally (kind of separate), the timing is set at 20 degrees, and I get no knock. I am planning to advance further until I get knock, then back off. This seems like too much advance to me, what is your opinion?

Do you mind sharing your experience with us (maybe the other guys know you but I haven't been here long enough). Thanks in advance for your opinions on this problem.


BTW - the cam is far too bumpy for my taste and I may swap to a more mild cam during winter projects to improve driveability.

Those arent pro form rockers are they?The cheap cast aluminum roller rockers make more noise that regular rockers.(They look like nice rockers.) 1 more thing ,what kind of lifters,there not the rhodes lifters are they? If u go thru and check what Denny said then u should find the problem,just offering more things to look at!!!!

Denny, thanks very much for your help. I am a bit confused about what to do now.

In your earlier post you said about the lower oil pressure possibility:
"BUT, with that pressure, the noise is normal, especially with an increase in lift. "

Then in this last one you said:
"A clicking or tapping noise almost always is an indication of a malfunctioning hydraulic lifter. Some noise is normal when the engine is cold, but this should disappear as the engine warms up. Some of the causes of hydraulic lifter noise can be dirty oil, inadequate oil pressure or improper oil weight, water in the oil, too low or too high oil level, or incorrect initial adjustment. "

So I REALLY appreciate the advice, but I'm still not clear if the noise is normal for my engine and oil pressure, or if I have more work to do to find the bad lifter(s). I have done all I can to identify if this is one cylinder (so far). It does not sound like one, but I can't be sure. What do you suggest is my next step, to remove the intake, and inspect each lifter? If I were to remove each lifter from the engine, how do I determine if they are bad?

I've included pictures of the lifters and pushrods closeup when I replaced the head gaskets. They are Lunati lifters as can be found on this page:

http://www.holley.com/71817.asp





<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/pnut333/lifter1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/pnut333/lifter2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a157/pnut333/pushrod.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>


Thanks in advance, keep it coming.

76gmc1500:

I did adjust the timing forward and back, and this noise did not change. Well, the whole engine ran a bit different of course, but this specific noise did not change from the timing. Thanks for the idea!

I just spoke with Lunati about these lifters (called their tech line), and he had this to say:

1) Roller rockers make more noise than fulcrum rockers (I have rollers)
2) aluminum body rockers make much more noise than steel (i have aluminum)
3) cast aluminum valve covers cause any valvetrain noise to sound louder (I have cast alum valve covers).

His opinion is that the noise was normal (he did not listen to the video), and nothing needs to be done. He also re-iterated that 1/2 turn max preload on these lifters is good, more is dangerous with the high lift cam.


hmmm, maybe I'll just run it and see how it goes..............