What cam? Did you go through the proper break-in procedure? Adjust the valves as suggested above then give it a listen and see how it sounds.
wiped cam?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: crystal lake Il.
wiped cam?
Installed a 383 over the weekend, didn`t drive it much or hard. It sounded real good until last night. About 5 miles from home I started hearing lifter noises. Sounds like one fairly loud on the right and one real loud on the left. Could it be a simple adjustment or could 2 or more lobes on the cam be wiped?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,465
Likes: 0
From: Orange Park Fl
After about 1k miles on my rebuild (right about the time we started hearing about wiped cams and no zinc in the oil), my engine started tapping like that. I was upset to say the least, imagining a wiped cam. I had been using regular Valvoline oil with Lucas stabilizer during break in. I took off the valve covers and used a stethoscope to find the noisy rockers. It took about a quarter turn on one and a half turn on the other to get them quiet. I have had no problem since and the engine runs great, so don't panic too soon! God bless, Sensei
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: crystal lake Il.
It is a new motor. It`s not an xe cam. My mechanic stopped over this afternoon. The motor sounds fine when it`s cold. When it warms up it starts making noise, sounds like a lifter, he adjusted them, and it still sounds the same. Now he wants to pull the head on the one side and see if a piston is tapping the head after warmup. It`s not the cam. The noise is up around the top end. Any thoughts?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
If you did not O deck the block and have at least 015 steel shim
gasket there is no way the piston is hitting the head, unless
you have monster dome pistons. Keep at the valve adjustment
or pull the lifters for a look. Is the motor getting a good amount of oil
up through the pushrods ?? Do you have a very high lift cam and
not a long enough slot in the rocker arms, take a good look at
your rockers and pushrods, check the rocker system very well before you give up and start pulling lifters for a look.
gasket there is no way the piston is hitting the head, unless
you have monster dome pistons. Keep at the valve adjustment
or pull the lifters for a look. Is the motor getting a good amount of oil
up through the pushrods ?? Do you have a very high lift cam and
not a long enough slot in the rocker arms, take a good look at
your rockers and pushrods, check the rocker system very well before you give up and start pulling lifters for a look.
Last edited by Little Mouse; May 24, 2006 at 08:13 PM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: crystal lake Il.
The oil comes out so fast, with the valve cover off it gets messy quick. I didn`t to see if all were gushing oil. If one of the pushrods isn`t getting enough oil would that make it noisy.Why wouldn`t it be noisy when it`s cold. What should I be looking for in regards to the lifters?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 10
From: Austin TX
A couple of thoughts,
Agree with Little Mouse,..seriously doubt a piston is reaching a valve(s).
I've had header flange leaks that sounded like a lifter needed adjustment,..though it would make noise hot or cold. Might check though.
Is a rocker tapping your valve cover?
Broken valve spring?
Collapsed lifter?
(And Little Mouse, this is for you)...could it be a valve (or valves) is slapping shut from a (unnamed) cam that has ramps that are too steep?
Agree with Little Mouse,..seriously doubt a piston is reaching a valve(s).
I've had header flange leaks that sounded like a lifter needed adjustment,..though it would make noise hot or cold. Might check though.
Is a rocker tapping your valve cover?
Broken valve spring?
Collapsed lifter?
(And Little Mouse, this is for you)...could it be a valve (or valves) is slapping shut from a (unnamed) cam that has ramps that are too steep?
Last edited by 73, Dark Blue 454; May 25, 2006 at 12:44 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
His helper thinks the piston is hitting the head. think about a new helper
if hes not a friend. i'm thinking the valves are just not getting the right
adjustment. I don't think it would be possible to hear a valve slamming
shut from the outside of the motor, unless maybe he has some 800
pound roller valve springs LOL and still don't think thats it, the
the lifters could be right on the money. its possible you
ended up with less then you paid for in lifters, keep looking under the valve
covers for a problem if thats not it pull the lifters check to see if one or
two are collasped .
if hes not a friend. i'm thinking the valves are just not getting the right
adjustment. I don't think it would be possible to hear a valve slamming
shut from the outside of the motor, unless maybe he has some 800
pound roller valve springs LOL and still don't think thats it, the
the lifters could be right on the money. its possible you
ended up with less then you paid for in lifters, keep looking under the valve
covers for a problem if thats not it pull the lifters check to see if one or
two are collasped .
Last edited by Little Mouse; May 25, 2006 at 01:10 AM.
East bound and down...
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 987
Likes: 3
From: Jonesboro Arkansas
I had a similar problem on my 496. I pulled the rocker covers and went back and reset everything to 0 lash. Then I went out and ran it again, it sounded worse. I just kept driving the darn thing and it finally quit making noise. The only thing I could figure out is that there must of been a little bit of some type of trash left over from the assy. process and a couple of the lifters must have picked it up and it just took awhile for it to work its way out of there. I'm not saying this is what is happening here, but sometimes things like that have a weird way working themselves out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: crystal lake Il.
In defense of my helper he was just rambling, it could be this or it could be that. I got the motor online and we don`t know how it was built. He`s really quite good and very meticulous. It wouldn`t surprise me about the lifters. I paid $3500 for the motor and it has edelbrock rpm aluminum heads, eagle steel forged crank, And I`m sure a bunch of no name stuff so they can make a profit. I think I`ll run for a while and hope it gets better.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 453
Likes: 1
From: Austin TX
They make little clips that snap on the top of the rocker to deflect the oil spray back into the head. This allows you to adjust he valves with the engine running. A little oil still gets around but nothing like not having them. I set the lash after I rebuilt the 350 in my truck and I could of sworn I had it right but there were a few tapping.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
I found some new push rods that were bent and causing a tapping noise in my old Chevelle's 350. Pulled them and rolled them on a flat surface and you could see the warp. Went to A Checker Auto parts and the guy brought out some "new" ones I pulled them out of the box right there and 3 of the 16 were bent almost as badly as the one I brought in to be replaced. I dont know how I bent it in the first place but a new straight one fixed it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
rather than pulling the head (cause that doesn't sound right) pull the intake you can see the cam. You can measure the amount of lift the lifter has with a ruler for intake and exhaust and compare that at the other lifters. You'll know if the cam is wiped. If it isn't and you still have to pull the head...you're almost there already.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: crystal lake Il.
I pulled the plugs this afternoon and 3 of 4 on the noisy side have been hit by the piston. Not much but you can see the marks. I put shorter reach plugs in (not recomended by edelbrock) to see if thats what the noise was. But it`s not. So evidently 1 or more pistons are tapping the head. Hopefully a thicker gasket will fix it.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by painterman52
I pulled the plugs this afternoon and 3 of 4 on the noisy side have been hit by the piston. Not much but you can see the marks. I put shorter reach plugs in (not recomended by edelbrock) to see if thats what the noise was. But it`s not. So evidently 1 or more pistons are tapping the head. Hopefully a thicker gasket will fix it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 5,403
Likes: 95
If they O decked the block and used less then a 040 gasket,
the piston could then hit the plug or head, some egg head
must have built it if they did that. hard to believe someone would
do that, if you are sure the plugs are being hit and you do not have
to long of a reach on the plug, you are in trouble, May have
underestimated your mechanic. When you pull the heads and
you have a piston at top dead center and you have found out the
block is O decked it needs 039, 040 gasket that will fix it.
the piston could then hit the plug or head, some egg head
must have built it if they did that. hard to believe someone would
do that, if you are sure the plugs are being hit and you do not have
to long of a reach on the plug, you are in trouble, May have
underestimated your mechanic. When you pull the heads and
you have a piston at top dead center and you have found out the
block is O decked it needs 039, 040 gasket that will fix it.
Last edited by Little Mouse; May 26, 2006 at 02:01 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: crystal lake Il.
The plugs are 3/4" reach. They go in edelbrock rpm aluminum heads. Edelbrock says do not use a shorter reach plug. I have serious doubts about the engine builder. He claimed he was having trouble with his help and had to fire everyone (to many mistakes). Add me to the list of people who should have stayed local but went with a guy off e-bay. I`ll know on monday, my buddy`s gonna pull the head and see whats wrong.