engine tick........help

[Shimy87]

Louder in car. Flex plate seemed fine when I put new converter in a few weeks ago. Sound is same from before new conveter to now

[Shimy87]

Okay got a scope. 100% no exhaust leaks. With the metal probe checked everywhere. No obvious tick louder than others. Took test drive . When you hear it best is going thru 1st and 2nd and slow crusing in 3rd at about 2100 rpm. If you accelerate the other noises drownd it out. In 2nd and 3rd at 2100 easy to hear. Got back and listened to valve covers again
 All drivers side are same. Passenger side the middle one seem to tick louder than the others.

What would you guys do?  As always, I really appreciate your help!!

[good2win22]

You might pull the valve covers and check for play on the rocker shaft.  Assuming all the bolts holding the shaft are torqued properly and no play between the rocker and the shaft, then I would look at the lifters. I've never had one of those teflon plugs that keeps the rocker in position break on me or come loose, so I'm not familiar with what happens if that occurs.

[larrym]

Hmmm got a dial indicator?
You could measure the lift on the rockers to see if you are wiping a lobe on the cam.
Try disconnecting the torque converter and starting it to rule out the drive train.

[Scoobum]

I cracked a rocker at the track a couple years back in high gear..but it dropped a cylinder immediately. Shimy...how many miles on that engine?

[Shimy87]

66000

[Scoobum]

The original engine in my car wiped a cam lobe at 30,000 miles...so it's possible yours is starting to go. If you're convinced it's a lifter...then I'd pull the intake and inspect the base of the lifters...and have a look at the cam lobes. Get everyone elses opinion.

[Shimy87]

If it is shouldnt it get progressively louder? Think ill pull the valve cover and have a look.

[larrym]

Before you pull the valve cover fire it and listen on the tranny with your stethoscope

[Scoobum]

If it is shouldnt it get progressively louder? Think ill pull the valve cover and have a look.

The pressure in the one cylinder in mine kept getting lower and lower. Dan has the cam hanging up in the shop. Cam lobe is wore substantially. Think it was down to 115 when we pulled it. That block...plus a new cam is sitting between the frame rails. It's the one I've been beating on since July 2014. Joe tossed a new set of rings and bearings in it...and balanced it up.

[Shimy87]

So if I do a compression check on pass side, if that center one is lower might confirm a lifter/ cam issue?

[Scoobum]

The way I confirm is to yank the intake and look at the lifters wear pattern.

[Steve Wood]

The way I confirm is to yank the intake and look at the lifters wear pattern.

That is the best way.  When You pull the valve covers off, all the push rods should  be rotating when the engine is running.  Number 3E will be turning slower than the others due to the position on its lobe.  All the others should be rotating at the same speed.  If you see one that is not rotating, you can bet on the lobe/lifter being wiped.

[Shimy87]

Is 3E middle drivers side?

[Scoobum]

I posted this on TBS a while back. When I apprenticed as an automotive machinist, we used an old dyno to check the speed the lifters were turning at. We had an oil line hooked up and an oil filter and oil pan on the engine...and that was it. No intake etc. I'd watch to see how fast the lifters spun. We used jobber lifters...and if they weren't spinning quick enuf...then we'd grab a GM lifter...and replaced it. The GM lifters would spin at a torrid pace. If yer' gonna use a flat tappet cam...use the highest quality lifter you can find. The lifters in my latest engine are GM NOS...from way back. One of the locals had put a set away...and was kind enuf to sell them to me. I had a set of CC's in another engine...but they were loud...sounded like hammers under the hood.