Wanted to share my story since it involves that less than perfect oil pump pickup tube o-ring. Over the last month, I started upgrading my 05 base vert with 50k miles which started out as a wobbly balancer then it turned into the cam project. Among these upgrades, kooks LT's, catted mid pipe, B&B bullets, TSP tv2 cam, HP oil pump, rolllmaster timing set, double springs, and a few other little things. After installing all my goodies, I start the car up and instantly fall in love. Took it for a test ride (untuned) and after my engine warmed up and oil Temps were up to normal, all I could hear was a sound as if a lifter wasn't pumping up. Sounded awful when I was driving next to buildings or walls. The sound was very dominant whenever holding higher rpms for a little while but would go away or at least start to when at idle. Oil pressure was good but there was room for improvement, high 20's, lower 30's at normal operating temp idle and slow to rise under acceleration 40's to 50. Prepared for either lifter replacement or o-ring woes (I paid so much attention to that damn o-ring when installing it). I get a tune done and continue driving hoping that the sound with just go away or thinking that everything will seat properly but no go. Looked up videos and hear other stories of people saying that this sound is "normal" for cammed Ls's but I refuse to believe it. I also developed this crazy clacking sound that could be heard from the fender well and under the car when the car reached higher temp. Heard examples of this on YouTube and guess what, everyone says 'it's normal, just drive it". Well, 200 miles in and still never turned the radio on because I'm so focused on this passenger side tick/tapping noise that I just know ain't normal. I decided to take the car for one more drive on a hot day (85f) before I tear it down and check that o-ring and as I'm driving it, I can literally hear that awful tapping going away the more I drive it. Next thing you know, boom, no more noise and the motor sounds quiet as can be. No clicking, tapping, ticking, clacking or anything, just a smooth running, perfect sounding Ls2. Check it day after day after day, the sound never came back and as a added bonus, my oil pressure is much more responsive, and higher, now 40's to 70's at normal operating temperature! So....its apparent that my o-ring wasn't seated properly and was sucking air into the system causing the lifters #6 or #8 to make noise. By stroke of luck, it sounds like the o-ring got pulled/sucked right up into position! I now have another 200 miles on the car and no issues. Drove it today, 91 degrees and no issues /noises!

Here is a video of the sound that everyone said was normal.
All good now!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0G...w?usp=drivesdk

 

Reading all these are making me paranoid about mine. I'm also currently in my cam swap build. Question. Did you put the o-ring on the pick up tube and insert it or set it in the oil pump and then insert it?

 

Glad it "fixed" itself. In any case...that did not sound normal at all to me.

 

I'd be very leery of anything that "fixed" itself.

 

the proper way to install o-ring is to put it on the pickup tube.if you put in oil pump theres a good chance of damaging o-ring when you slide tube into oil pump.always use a new o-ring and lubricate it for install.push the oil pump screen tube completely into the oil pump prior to tightening the bolt.do not allow the bolt to pull the tube into the pump.no reason to be paranoid. if you follow these factory service manual instructions you will never have an issue with the o-ring

 

That was my exact procedure. Thank you. I caught myself doing one thing wrong and now I'm re checking everything. I'm sure I'm good to go

 

when I did mine I lubed the o-ring and tube inserted it into the oil pump and with the end of the wrench under the bolt tab and on the edge of the oil pan leveraged the tube up into the oil pump on then got the bolt started you can see it "pop" into position.

 

I would guess the relief valve in the oil pump was sticking, 30psi oil presure at about 600rpm idle for a stock LS2 stock oil pump is normal and good. Anytime I install a oil pump I take it apart and make sure it's clean and free moving before I install it, also lube it up with assembly lube