I wont get into who built the engine just yet. I got a heads and cam package, intake, headers etc. I had a slight ticking that I was told was normal especially with the new cam. This ticking has got louder and louder as time goes on. Now I have a bad ping, really bad. Ed Wrights shop told me that since it did not ping right from the start it cannot be the program (like a timing error) So I drove all the way to DRM in MN. The say its the computer but cant work with eds program so they would have to start over. They also stated octane boost would help the ping so now I have no clue what to think. If they think the spark plugs are firing to soon causing the ping meaning its not firing on its own then what good does octane boost do? Timing or bad octane? They seem to mix them both together. All the valve-type noise? I guess they think its normal but it got much worse after the 50 mile drive to where I am staying. If this noise is normal then why would it keep getting louder? I can hear it over the radio no problem, and it doesnt sound like all the pistons/rods/lifters but more like one.

Thing is I hate my car now, what a waste. And it seems nothing has changed in the tuning biz, everyone blames it on something else and no one can fix it. Ed is going to Dyno test it and fine tune it for free which is cool so maybe I will drive it back down there. I dont have much hope though. If Ed Wright and DRM cant fix it then who can? Where is the best place to get a new LS1? I think I will just part this one out and take the loss. Anyone have any idea about these two problems? I am in MN and going back to AZ and would love to hear someone elses modded vette. Only thing that might save the car is if its a bad lifter/push rod and the computer tuning kills the pinging. This sucks.

 

There have been a few LS1's for sale on here lately, and KarShop had a LS6 for sale as well.

Good luck with all of this. :)

 

The motor has a ticking sound that is getting louder everyday, I am assuming you didn't have this ticking problem before the head/cam package. My guess would be a bad lifter or the valves need adjusting, if you drove from Scottsdale to Minnesota the car can't be to bad or was it trailered and has anyone looked at the internals of the engine :confused: either way goodluck and let us know how things go :cheers:

 

hmmmmmmm...
Ticking can be caused by a few things..
Wrong exhaust manifold gaskets.
A stuck lifter.
I broken rocker arm.
Valves hitting piston.

If it did not ping before the mods I would check the programming out. If you stick a Tech II on the car and drive it you should be able to determine if there is a misfire or knock...if the car is driving fine but still ticking..I would check the stuff I mentioned above.

Does the car idle ok?

It really sounds like a stuck lifter to me...
Did you over rev the motor at all...or do a skidpad???????

I once saw this happen to a car on the skidpad..but doing doughnuts...all the oil splashed up against the side and it got oil starved and the lifter stuck...after idling for awhile the lifter pumped back up and was fine...the owner raced the car over the next two days at Buttonwillow.

It really peaves me when tuners blame everything else to save money instead of help you...or want to sell you more stuff to fix something..

If you live in Phoenix why dont you just drive down and see Nate at Xtreme motorsports and let them take a look at it. I don't think they will try and screw you.

 

What are the specs on the cam???? Did Ed Wright mail order tune it or did you take it to his shop???Who installed the head /cam package???

Call Nate at Xtreme Motorsports..located in Tempe.Here's the link http://www.xmotorsports.com/home/ :yesnod: :yesnod:

Cheer up it's easily fixed and cheaper than a new motor and install :thumbs:
joel (Bink) :cheers:

 

Well I might just do the pushrods myself tomorrow to eliminate atleast one of the things. It does sound more like lifter/rod. It did have a slight tick before the mods though, so I was leaning toword a pushrod that the added power is making worse. As for the ping I have no idea, its getting bad as well and I am hoping its just the computer. But it will be hard for Ed to tune it with a bad lifter/rod as I will cringe when he gets on it. I understand Ed thinking its something else because usually is I suppose. I dont blame him at all, I got a chance to meet him and he was more then nice. He needs to get it on the dyno, I did mail order but it was not done right, no big deal though he reflashed it as I drove through. This time he will use Dyno and is not charging me. I just hope I can get it down there, if I cant drive without the major ping I am screwed, it will destroy the engine on the way down. Right now I am focused on the valve noise. I will have to get details on cam etc, b ut I know there was not much clearance with the valves. I think lifter but my roomate thinks pushrods. Since pushrods are cheap and easy I will do that and see. If its not that.......who knows. I will update tomorrow, heading over to DRM again to get the rods, maybe they can listen to the car again. They were nice and all, did not charge me. I just dont understand the advice to add octane AND redo computer because of timing. I would think its one or the other and the ping started a good 1000 miles after ed re-did the computer last time. We will see, losts of talking going on now and people are trying to help, you guys might know what this is like..... I hope I wake up soon!

 

Your tuner needs to fix this problem... Take it back to him... BTW, it's not fair to the other tuners in Arizona not to name who it was... Casts a cloud of doubt on them.
Shirl
SDRE

 

I do not see how a pushrod can cause a ticking noise, unless it is bent or the end is buggered up. You can check for bent push rods by rolling all the rods on flat surface, and save yourself some money.
When you have the valve covers off, get each piston at TDC and then check the intake and exhaust valves train for play or looseness. If it is a wrist pin, a good tech can find which one by progressively killing individual cylinders with a TechII computer.

 

:iagree: :yesnod: You can check wrist pins by pulling the coil wires one at a time...unloads the pin.
joel(Bink) :cheers:

 

Doing pushrods and rocker adjusting over the next few days, will let you guys know, thanks for the help.


[Modified by cuda, 3:07 AM 5/29/2003]

 

Cuda,

Do not if this will provide any help or moral support but the link below is related to tapping noises on H/C cars.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=571814

Good Luck :smash: :cheers:

 

if it had a little tick before, I hope it isn't a pushrod seeing as how you should have changed to hardened pushrods when you did heads/cam

either way, good luck man, I hope you get it all worked out

 

Your situation scares the crap out of me! So far I have limited my mods to standard bolt-ons, but I am very close to substantial engine mods. Problem is, I am not very technically knowledgeable, and therefore I would be putting all my faith, trust and sanity in the hands of an "expert". Frankly, I just don't want to "hate my car".

I feel your pain, man, and hope you get everything resolved. As for me, I feel a strong case of "cold feet" coming on!

:auto:

 

Well I am already into it so I will try some more to fix. It sucks thats for sure. But the power potential is amazing. I have only got on it a few times but man, its a rush. Once its done I will be loving it. I just hope it works out. More pros looked at it today and really dont know what up, but its valve related in some way. Detonation DRM thinks the reprogram will fix. I plan to limp it back to where it was built and have that guy have a shot after I reprogram the puter. Hopefully it turns out to be a rod, I bought a set today. In a 430+ RWHP package it used standard pushrods. Maybe thats it, a small bend. Now let us pray......... Amen. Ok, should be all set in the next few days...... Thanks for the support.

 

Thanks for the update. :thumbs: Keep us posted :yesnod: :yesnod: :steering:

 

I havn't seen anybody bend a stock rod yet on this forum...especially with H&C. The stock rods are not the best..but they still are good for upwards around 450hp.

 

How radical of a cam did you do? Did they mill the heads? If the cam is pretty radical and the heads have been milled, they better have fly cut the pistons. Did they? Send the car to LGM and they will figure it out.
Cheers
Randy :cheers:

 

LGM?

 

LG Motorsports.