Lifter preload
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
Alright so let’s say I measure and I am right at the ideal preload with the 7.400 pr’s, what then?! Where would all that noise be coming from? If it’s simply just loud and not causing any premature wear I guess I will just get over it but surely it could potentially be quieter
I'd consider this...
MOST shoot for preload on these things around .070". Measure how close you are to that and change the pushrods to compensate. I'm right around 0.65 preload and it's rather quiet.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
I ordered a pushrod length checker and should be in tomorrow. After determining what preload I am currently running I will decide if I need to go with more or less. If my current preload is on the higher end, maybe around .090, Could a lower preload actually be less noisy? Maybe go to .065? Because if I am currently around .090 then going up a pr size would put me over .100 and that would be too risky, correct?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
I ordered a pushrod length checker and should be in tomorrow. After determining what preload I am currently running I will decide if I need to go with more or less. If my current preload is on the higher end, maybe around .090, Could a lower preload actually be less noisy? Maybe go to .065? Because if I am currently around .090 then going up a pr size would put me over .100 and that would be too risky, correct?
Instructor
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 243
Likes: 53
From: Draper UT
I think you’re on the right track, one more thing though. Are you running stock injectors? Some injectors can be terribly noisy and can sound like lifter tick, an exhaust leak, etc... I have a 228r and deatchwerks injectors. My injectors are louder than my valvetrain.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
I think you’re on the right track, one more thing though. Are you running stock injectors? Some injectors can be terribly noisy and can sound like lifter tick, an exhaust leak, etc... I have a 228r and deatchwerks injectors. My injectors are louder than my valvetrain.
Last edited by bwill03z; May 18, 2019 at 08:54 AM.
Running Guns & Moonshine
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 12,498
Likes: 7,182
From: CT
Not for nothing, but better safe than sorry. I just bought a 2003 Z last month. Heads, cam and intake with a blower. Two days into driving it and a lifter collapsed. But a day before when idling the car in a friend's driveway he thought he heard a louder noise like you say. I passed it off as typical sewing machine chatter.
Pull your covers and check that no rockers are loose and no pushrods are too deep.
Pull your covers and check that no rockers are loose and no pushrods are too deep.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Not for nothing, but better safe than sorry. I just bought a 2003 Z last month. Heads, cam and intake with a blower. Two days into driving it and a lifter collapsed. But a day before when idling the car in a friend's driveway he thought he heard a louder noise like you say. I passed it off as typical sewing machine chatter.
Pull your covers and check that no rockers are loose and no pushrods are too deep.
Pull your covers and check that no rockers are loose and no pushrods are too deep.
Last edited by Bill Curlee; May 19, 2019 at 08:36 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
Not for nothing, but better safe than sorry. I just bought a 2003 Z last month. Heads, cam and intake with a blower. Two days into driving it and a lifter collapsed. But a day before when idling the car in a friend's driveway he thought he heard a louder noise like you say. I passed it off as typical sewing machine chatter.
Pull your covers and check that no rockers are loose and no pushrods are too deep.
Pull your covers and check that no rockers are loose and no pushrods are too deep.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
I did Some measuring this evening and by my calculations I am between .085 and .090 on preload with the 7.400 pushrods. I only got the chance to measure on one cylinder so I will do more tomorrow . It took 10 and between a quarter and a half turns to get to zero lash. I assume going up a size and going over .100 preload is prob too much? I guess I may just have to deal with a noisy motor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
I used c7 lifters rated to 800hp
.51gasket
stock lengths hardened rods by ZZ Top performance. 7.40
all with new 243 performance gm heads/ kept the springs and valves.
If I heard a sowing machine noise maybe check out the rocker arms. Possibly you have some loose or worn out parts.
Mines quiet as ever. Before I changed mine I was getting a small lifter tick upon start up. I had a buddy his slapped like a sowing machine until he tightened down the rocker arms. properly. That was a 302 boss. If the lobes weren’t done when doing the cam then that could be it and that becomes time consuming again. Your cam could be slapping from worn parts. A 228 wouldn’t be my first choice your better off with a custom cam according to what you have and what your looking to get out of your poweband. If you have to go the distance. Check your springs maybe they are worn or need a dual coil/ beehive style replacement.
.51gasket
stock lengths hardened rods by ZZ Top performance. 7.40
all with new 243 performance gm heads/ kept the springs and valves.
If I heard a sowing machine noise maybe check out the rocker arms. Possibly you have some loose or worn out parts.
Mines quiet as ever. Before I changed mine I was getting a small lifter tick upon start up. I had a buddy his slapped like a sowing machine until he tightened down the rocker arms. properly. That was a 302 boss. If the lobes weren’t done when doing the cam then that could be it and that becomes time consuming again. Your cam could be slapping from worn parts. A 228 wouldn’t be my first choice your better off with a custom cam according to what you have and what your looking to get out of your poweband. If you have to go the distance. Check your springs maybe they are worn or need a dual coil/ beehive style replacement.
Last edited by Speedy007; Jun 1, 2019 at 11:49 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
I used c7 lifters rated to 800hp
.51gasket
stock lengths hardened rods by ZZ Top performance. 7.40
all with new 243 performance gm heads/ kept the springs and valves.
If I heard a sowing machine noise maybe check out the rocker arms. Possibly you have some loose or worn out parts.
Mines quiet as ever. Before I changed mine I was getting a small lifter tick upon start up. I had a buddy his slapped like a sowing machine until he tightened down the rocker arms. properly. That was a 302 boss. If the lobes weren’t done when doing the cam then that could be it and that becomes time consuming again. Your cam could be slapping from worn parts. A 228 wouldn’t be my first choice your better off with a custom cam according to what you have and what your looking to get out of your poweband. If you have to go the distance. Check your springs maybe they are worn or need a dual coil/ beehive style replacement.
.51gasket
stock lengths hardened rods by ZZ Top performance. 7.40
all with new 243 performance gm heads/ kept the springs and valves.
If I heard a sowing machine noise maybe check out the rocker arms. Possibly you have some loose or worn out parts.
Mines quiet as ever. Before I changed mine I was getting a small lifter tick upon start up. I had a buddy his slapped like a sowing machine until he tightened down the rocker arms. properly. That was a 302 boss. If the lobes weren’t done when doing the cam then that could be it and that becomes time consuming again. Your cam could be slapping from worn parts. A 228 wouldn’t be my first choice your better off with a custom cam according to what you have and what your looking to get out of your poweband. If you have to go the distance. Check your springs maybe they are worn or need a dual coil/ beehive style replacement.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
I would check them one by one for wiggle there’s plastic with a bearing I think inside those rockers and it wears out. Re torque and see if any changes it will prob take you a hour. .650 coils? On stock valves ?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
They all wiggle a bit side to side... all rockers have be retorqued. Also I did the bronze bushing rocker trunnion upgrade. Springs are TSP dual .660 springs, and yes stock valves
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
So I think what I’m dealing with here is an issue only on the driver side. I’ve been outside listening carefully and the ticking begins only on the drivers side and that’s why I can hear it so well when driving. The passenger side seems to be pretty quiet. It’s sounds like maybe just one pushrod is a hair too short. Probably not hurting anything but it’s enough to drive me nuts
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 874
Likes: 107
From: Detroit MI
I did Some measuring this evening and by my calculations I am between .085 and .090 on preload with the 7.400 pushrods. I only got the chance to measure on one cylinder so I will do more tomorrow . It took 10 and between a quarter and a half turns to get to zero lash. I assume going up a size and going over .100 preload is prob too much? I guess I may just have to deal with a noisy motor.
BTW, mine also gets louder as the oil warms up. I found running 0w40 Mobil 1 over 5w30 helped quiet it down a bit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 187
From: California
Could you post a new video up here with the car running. I really would doubt you have 1 rod smaller than the rest. I would suspect those.660 dual coils are to much spring.Maybe it’s not able to perform is action properly.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,164
Likes: 258
From: Virginia
Check a few other cylinders on the driver's side just for science to see if there's variation per your other post about driver's side. You might benefit from a little less preload from 7.375" rods
BTW, mine also gets louder as the oil warms up. I found running 0w40 Mobil 1 over 5w30 helped quiet it down a bit.
BTW, mine also gets louder as the oil warms up. I found running 0w40 Mobil 1 over 5w30 helped quiet it down a bit.
Yea I will post one shortly. Possibly but those were the springs that came in the package. The 228r cam I have is a .600/.600 lift though.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 144
From: Miami
So I think what I’m dealing with here is an issue only on the driver side. I’ve been outside listening carefully and the ticking begins only on the drivers side and that’s why I can hear it so well when driving. The passenger side seems to be pretty quiet. It’s sounds like maybe just one pushrod is a hair too short. Probably not hurting anything but it’s enough to drive me nuts
PS: Have you given the Rislone a try? I also have brand new LS7 lifters and this helped for me at least.
Last edited by turabo87; Jun 3, 2019 at 04:50 PM.