Another ticking LS3 but doesnt sound like normal tick.

[dma05]

Originally Posted by diablo0730

So ive been hearing this ticking sound from my Camaro since doing my cam swap and I can not figure it out. I vant hear it outside of the car but mainly when im inside the car. Its not exhaust leak i checked everything 4 times, checked rocker arms over and over, lifters are new, trays are new did the Trunnion upgrade as well. As the rpms go it it gets to sounding like a buzzing sound then the exhaust is to loud to hear it. Oil pressure is perfect and im stumped on this one. Are the OEM lifters not enough for the size of the cam?

I uploaded a video cruising back home from the store at about 15-1600rpm had to turn off radio and AC to hear it. Anyone have any idea? No codes are thrown and it still runs and drive fine.

https://youtu.be/U5Pw4OAMaOo

I have the SAME sound after installing my Comp Cam, Push Rods, Trunion Upgrade, Springs and Heartbeat Supercharger.


The tuner I took it to seems to think it may be a lifter as well, but we haven't dug into it yet.



PLEASE keep us updated on what you find.


thanks!

[Pkeen]

Originally Posted by zz430camaro

I think he was just trying to clarify that you did measure no need to get nasty.

Sounds like a lifter tick, the only way I got mine to be quiet is to get pushrods that put the lifter piston way down in the lifter, about .030 to .050 from the bottom so about .125 to .150 preload. Also it helped when I ran thicker oil, now my valvetrain is really quiet and it still runs great after 15K miles with cam. Run high zinc oil too it helps make high performance valvetrains live.

I completely agree with this , what ever measurement you come up with, add an extra .025 at least with ls7 lifters that is. That's what it's taken with my ls1 383 stroker an my ls3 416 stroker to quiet them up.

[diablo0730]

Measured to were it was calling for 7.400 so did go up to 7.425 and was ticking went down to 7.400 and still ticking. Checked the lifters just pushing down on the push rod and one of the lifters had some plunger movement. Im almost positive i have a bad lifter. Going to tear it down one day soon and put in some new Johnson lifters.

[G8One2]

Tip heights can vary .025" or so from valve to valve (on stock heads / valve seats). They're also different bank to bank. I suspect this is why the OEM run .070" or more pre load, to take up that machining variance. Also likely why, people have better luck with a quieter valvetrain, with more preload vs less. You'd have to have a valve job done from a competent machine shop to get the seats cut properly, and to keep all the tip heights the same (KATECH get my recommendation). If you set your pushrod length and preload based off of cylinder #1, its possible that with a loss in preload due to thermal expansion of the block, you could end up with too little preload on a couple of cylinders causing noise. You'd have to measure all your tip heights to know where your at, as this measurement effects pushrod length and effectively pre load. Food for thought

[morepowerjoe]

Originally Posted by diablo0730

Measured to were it was calling for 7.400 so did go up to 7.425 and was ticking went down to 7.400 and still ticking. Checked the lifters just pushing down on the push rod and one of the lifters had some plunger movement. Im almost positive i have a bad lifter. Going to tear it down one day soon and put in some new Johnson lifters.

Oh man. I think I'm in the same boat because I have valve train noise too. But it does sound like one lifter though that is the loudest. I took off the valve covers off and checked the preload on each valve off the base circle of the cam and didn't have any play in any off them so I'm just going to rum it for a while until it gets insanely loud then I'll switch them out and if the cam goes then I guess it will be time for a rebuild. lol 🤣