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LS6 knocking / clicking noise

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Old Jun 9, 2019 | 05:28 PM
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Default LS6 knocking / clicking noise

My 2002 C5Z’s engine started making a clicking/knocking noise on the drivers side today. There is currently 114K miles on the car. Within the past 5000 miles I’ve upgraded the valve springs, upgraded the push rods, upgraded the rockers with a trunnion kit, replaced the water and oil pump, new lifters, new balancer, new roller timing set, new thrust plate, and installed a mild cam.

From what I’ve read on the forums from others having similar behavior, it could very well be a bad lifter, which would suck for a novice garage mechanic like myself.

I’ve recorded a video that includes the sound I’m hearing from it. Here it is;


any suggestions would be awesome. I’m assuming I’ll need to inspect the rockers and valve springs before anything, but really hoping I don’t need to pull the heads.

Last edited by CapslockAnt; Jun 9, 2019 at 10:35 PM.
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Old Jun 9, 2019 | 06:01 PM
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I'd suggest getting a dowel rod about 2 feet long and putting your ear on one end, then probing for exactly where the tick is coming from before going any further...
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Old Jun 9, 2019 | 06:59 PM
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Originally Posted by 73Corvette
I'd suggest getting a dowel rod about 2 feet long and putting your ear on one end, then probing for exactly where the tick is coming from before going any further...
I’ll need to go purchase a dowel rod to do this. Is there a better tool for this test since I’ll need to run to a store anyways?

I pulled the valve cover and the rockers/valve springs look healthy. Here are some pictures.





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Old Jun 9, 2019 | 11:34 PM
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since you had the rockers off have you checked the torque to make sure none of them came loose?... you can also start the engine without the valve cover on and see if anything looks out of the ordinary
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Old Jun 10, 2019 | 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted by neutron82
since you had the rockers off have you checked the torque to make sure none of them came loose?... you can also start the engine without the valve cover on and see if anything looks out of the ordinary
All of them were snug and secure, valve springs also. I didn’t start the engine but that’s definitely good to know for the future.
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Old Jun 15, 2019 | 06:30 PM
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I now seem to hear the noise on both sides of the engine, I can’t pinpoint the sound. I purchased a mechanic stethoscope and it’s not doing much good — I have no idea where this noise is coming from.

I noticed that one of the caps from my AC condenser line is missing. Any chance it’s somehow made it’s way into the crank area and is bouncing around?


Should I be worried to drive it with this noise? I’m considering taking it for a spin to see if the noise lessens, gets worse, or goes away — but obviously don’t want to damage my car.
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Old Jun 19, 2019 | 04:25 PM
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Originally Posted by CapslockAnt
I now seem to hear the noise on both sides of the engine, I can’t pinpoint the sound. I purchased a mechanic stethoscope and it’s not doing much good — I have no idea where this noise is coming from.

I noticed that one of the caps from my AC condenser line is missing. Any chance it’s somehow made it’s way into the crank area and is bouncing around?


Should I be worried to drive it with this noise? I’m considering taking it for a spin to see if the noise lessens, gets worse, or goes away — but obviously don’t want to damage my car.
Def not crank no, belt drive or something maybe, but seems highly unlikely. Hows it sound if you blip the throttle? Sounds internal and lower end to me, but hard to diagnose on video.

Could pull the belt and fire it up to see if it goes away, wont take long to rule out belt drive.

Check torque on rockers like mentioned too, and underside of valve covers nothing hitting.

Last edited by jrob56; Jun 19, 2019 at 04:32 PM.
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Old Jun 19, 2019 | 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted by jrob56
Def not crank no, belt drive or something maybe, but seems highly unlikely. Hows it sound if you blip the throttle?
Thanks for the response, I should have updated the thread earlier.

It ended up being a bad clutch. Replacing it with an LS7 clutch and RAM aluminum flywheel next week.

Thanks everyone!
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Old Jun 19, 2019 | 04:34 PM
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Originally Posted by CapslockAnt
Thanks for the response, I should have updated the thread earlier.

It ended up being a bad clutch. Replacing it with an LS7 clutch and RAM aluminum flywheel next week.

Thanks everyone!
Im relieved for you haha. I kept editing and adding to my response of stuff Id do.
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