C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Texas Speed 224r Cam question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 9, 2011 | 09:37 PM
  #1  
TheDEfan's Avatar
TheDEfan
Thread Starter
Pro
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 9
From: Saratoga Springs Ut
Default Texas Speed 224r Cam question

I have Installed a Texas Speed 224R 581/581 114 Cam and I can't get rid of the valve train noise. Does anyone else have this cam with the same problem?

Mods are TEA Stage 1 heads with Beehive springs, LG Street Pro LT's, Fast Intake, and the Texas Speed Cam

I have the right size push rods installed with about 0.80 preload on LS7 lifters and it's still ticking. If its the nature of the beast then I guess I have to live with it, but I don't like the noise.

Last edited by TheDEfan; Oct 9, 2011 at 09:40 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 07:23 AM
  #2  
kmart454's Avatar
kmart454
Instructor
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
From: oneida tn
Default

Did you change the rocker arms? They may be hitting the stock valve covers.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 07:39 AM
  #3  
AU N EGL's Avatar
AU N EGL
Team Owner
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Default

Normal,

let the engine warm up a bit. and or go to a heavier oil.

last option would be to Install LTs and straight pipes. Never hear the valve train again
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 08:15 AM
  #4  
TheDEfan's Avatar
TheDEfan
Thread Starter
Pro
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 9
From: Saratoga Springs Ut
Default

Originally Posted by kmart454
Did you change the rocker arms? They may be hitting the stock valve covers.
Stock rockers.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 10:09 AM
  #5  
baxsom's Avatar
baxsom
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
Default

i am just curious how you know you have to right size pushrods? Did you measure or use the ones TSP recommended.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 12:51 PM
  #6  
sfc rick's Avatar
sfc rick
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,119
Likes: 156
From: Huntington tx
Default

My 228R from Texas Speed and Performance sound track listening to valve train noise!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QydZ7OOroTs

Pardon my Obama impersonation...Uhhh...Uhh...Uhh.

Last edited by sfc rick; Oct 10, 2011 at 02:37 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 01:41 PM
  #7  
mchicia1's Avatar
mchicia1
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 9
From: Morrisville PA
Default

Post a video.
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 01:43 PM
  #8  
mchicia1's Avatar
mchicia1
Drifting
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,898
Likes: 9
From: Morrisville PA
Default

Where do you hear the noise? With the hood open and you listening? Or while driving? If it is while driving, it may just be the valves echoing through the header (normal). If it is noticable with the hood open, you may have measured PRs incorrectly.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-3

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 04:09 PM
  #9  
TmillerC5's Avatar
TmillerC5
Drifting
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,471
Likes: 29
From: St. Louis Mo.
St. Jude Donor '08
Default

I have that exact cam in my 97. Yes I have a clicking noise. Had it for about 5 years and many track days. I took AU N EGL advice about two years ago and went LT headers, no cats, and muffler bypass. Now that beautiful sound kind of out weighs the clicking noise
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 05:22 PM
  #10  
AU N EGL's Avatar
AU N EGL
Team Owner
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Default

Originally Posted by TmillerC5
I have that exact cam in my 97. Yes I have a clicking noise. Had it for about 5 years and many track days. I took AU N EGL advice about two years ago and went LT headers, no cats, and muffler bypass. Now that beautiful sound kind of out weighs the clicking noise
Reply
Old Oct 10, 2011 | 10:26 PM
  #11  
RX-Ben's Avatar
RX-Ben
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,781
Likes: 14
From: Phoenixville, PA
Default

Pre load issue, asking for a problem.
How did you figure the pr length?
surely you meant .070" pre-load?
How did you determine your pre-load?
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2011 | 01:33 PM
  #12  
TheDEfan's Avatar
TheDEfan
Thread Starter
Pro
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 9
From: Saratoga Springs Ut
Default

This is what I did, and from what I've read the lifters I'm runnining need about .080 of preload

use the Comp, which is 6.800" closed.

How to use

Each turn of the pushrod is 0.050". When fully closed, it is 6.800". This is pushrod "gauge length" so you can't measure it directly as the pushrod length is actually based on the length between the ball ends where the ball end measures 0.140" in diameter. Assuming you are using stock rockers or a non-adjustable rocker.

1. Open the adjustable pushrod to the same length as your stock pushrods
2. Close it down two turns
3. Put your rocker rail on the head
4. Make sure you cylinder (typically #1) is at top dead center on the firing stroke so both valves would be closed
5. Put the pushrod in place on the intake valve and make sure it is in the lifter cup
6. Install the rocker and snug down the bolt (don't need to torque, just make sure it is snug)
7. Lift rocker tip up and down, if it "ticks" the pushrod is too short. If you can't easily move the rocker the pushrod is too long.
8. You can try and adjust the pushrod in place but my fingers are too fat so I end up pulling the rocker and adjusting the pushrod length. Go either shorter or longer 1/2 turn and try again.
9. You are trying to get to the point where the lifter doesn't "tick tick" with the pushrod in place nor is the rocker snug. When you get the pushrod length such that you just barely get rid of the "tick tick", you have found "zero lash".
10. When you have found zero lash, carefully remove the rocker and pushrod without rotating the pushrod.
11. Tighten the pushrod until it is fully closed counting the turns as you go.

To figure out your pushrod length you do the following. Let’s assume it took 10-1/2 turns to close the pushrod down to its shortest length after you reached zero lash. Each turn is 0.050".

Your length is then: 6.800" (fully closed length) + 10.5 X 0.050" (number of turns times the length change per turn) = pushrod length minus preload. So for this case:

6.800 +10.5 X 0.050 = 7.325"

This is the length you measured to zero lash without any lifter preload. Now let’s say you want to have 0.100" lifter preload, you add that to the measured number and you end up with 7.425" pushrod.

Last edited by TheDEfan; Oct 11, 2011 at 09:52 PM.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2011 | 06:11 PM
  #13  
PRE-Z06's Avatar
PRE-Z06
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,315
Likes: 2,866
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Default

The XER lobes of that cam although not extremely high lift are very agressive on the opening/closing rates off the seat which adds to valvetrain noise.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2011 | 06:56 PM
  #14  
baxsom's Avatar
baxsom
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 235
From: Rockledge FL
Default

Originally Posted by RX-Ben
Pre load issue, asking for a problem.
How did you figure the pr length?
surely you meant .070" pre-load?
How did you determine your pre-load?
every chart posted here says .080 for the LS7 lifter.
Reply
Old Oct 11, 2011 | 09:49 PM
  #15  
TheDEfan's Avatar
TheDEfan
Thread Starter
Pro
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
Liked
Loved
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 713
Likes: 9
From: Saratoga Springs Ut
Default

At 0 lash at #1 cly @ TDC I was 8 1/2 truns out on the PR checker which is .425 added to 6.800= 7.225+ .80 preload is 7.305 I intalled 7.300 rods. So I guess I'm okay, but the noise drives me
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2011 | 08:00 AM
  #16  
AU N EGL's Avatar
AU N EGL
Team Owner
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 43,084
Likes: 33
From: Raleigh / Rolesville NC
Default

Originally Posted by PRE-Z06
The XER lobes of that cam although not extremely high lift are very agressive on the opening/closing rates off the seat which adds to valvetrain noise.
I change my springs each winter too. Comp 918s have worked well for me

now each winter means 3000 miles of 3000 to 6700 rpm HARD driving.
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2011 | 10:42 AM
  #17  
had2have-it's Avatar
had2have-it
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Metairie Louisiana
Default

Looking for a 224*, .580" cam for an otherwise stock '01 LS1 that would not need periodic valve spring replacement to be reliable ?
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Texas Speed 224r Cam question

Old Oct 12, 2011 | 11:34 AM
  #18  
PRE-Z06's Avatar
PRE-Z06
Race Director
15 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
Liked
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 12,315
Likes: 2,866
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Default

Originally Posted by had2have-it
Looking for a 224*, .580" cam for an otherwise stock '01 LS1 that would not need periodic valve spring replacement to be reliable ?
I ran Comp 918 with 224/220 .581 116 XER cam for almost 25k miles seeing 6800 frequently, so they can survive.

When you say stock are you talking no headers or CAI?
Reply
Old Oct 12, 2011 | 11:39 AM
  #19  
had2have-it's Avatar
had2have-it
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 812
Likes: 2
From: Metairie Louisiana
Default

Originally Posted by PRE-Z06
I ran Comp 918 with 224/220 .581 116 XER cam for almost 25k miles seeing 6800 frequently, so they can survive.

When you say stock are you talking no headers or CAI?
Zip tie "cai", the headers are soon to be installed ARH 1 3/4 long tubes and non-catted x-pipe running thru a stock LS1 catback.
Reply
Old Dec 1, 2011 | 02:18 PM
  #20  
mitchcole's Avatar
mitchcole
Drifting
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 4
From: Tracy CA
Default

I know you said that you measured the pushrod length, but if you're using stock heads (unmilled) and stock gaskets - there's no way that the right size pushrod is shorter than stock. In order to get that level of lift, the cam grinder has to make a smaller base circle cam. For me the difference between the stock cam and the Comp cam was 0.102" for base circle diameter. Divide that by 2 and I should be running an extra 0.050" pushrod over factory 7.400". I had already purchased 7.425" and that's what I'm going with.

That said - my car isn't back together yet.
Reply



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:17 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-1
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette lineup vs the world.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-24 16:12:42


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!

Slideshow: 10 major Corvette problems from the last 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-14 16:37:05


VIEW MORE
story-8
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!

Slideshow: 5 most and least popular Corvette model years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-08 13:25:01


VIEW MORE
story-9
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!

Slideshow: 2027 Corvette buyer's guide

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-17 16:41:08


VIEW MORE