Noisy Valvetrain- Cammed LS3
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 202
Noisy Valvetrain- Cammed LS3
Cammed LS3 with a blower just turned 6K miles. Ticking can be heard coming from the driver's side while idling. Mechanic who specializes in LS motors says they all do it and doesn't sound too bad but suggested checking the valve guides if it concerns me. Car runs great and pegs the oil pressure gauge on cold start (dry sump). Currently running 5w30 Redline. Ran 5w30 M1 previously and was doing it then too. Should I try thicker oil? Any input greatly appreciated. Thanks folks
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
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From: Indianapolis IN
I just picked up mine this week after a cam install, same noise,,, but I used Royal Purple this time and the 5w30 R.P. sounds louder than the Mobil 1 that I had been using....
Might go back to Mobil 1
Might go back to Mobil 1
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 202
Did it do it prior to the cam? Did you ask the shop who installed it?
Apparently cams and headers amplify the noise...or so I'm told. Seems to be common. That eases my mind a bit but the ticking still drives me crazy.
Apparently cams and headers amplify the noise...or so I'm told. Seems to be common. That eases my mind a bit but the ticking still drives me crazy.
Last edited by JetstreamGS; Sep 13, 2015 at 09:18 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
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Sound clip would help, since some of the cams offered really need to be lob final polished before they are installed. If not, then it more of the roller lifter noise against the cam lobs you are hearing instead.
Also, hydraulic roller lifters still, or do you go to solid roller lifters instead. With solid, you have to have free lash between the rockers and push rods, and this can cause more noise as well.
Also, hydraulic roller lifters still, or do you go to solid roller lifters instead. With solid, you have to have free lash between the rockers and push rods, and this can cause more noise as well.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2012
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I've noticed a slightly louder valvetrain noise after installing long tubes. Before the car was quiet as a mouse.
So i would suspect it's the long tubes. My car only has 8k miles with long tubes and exhaust being the only mods so i know it's not an internal installation issue.
So i would suspect it's the long tubes. My car only has 8k miles with long tubes and exhaust being the only mods so i know it's not an internal installation issue.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 202
Sound clip would help, since some of the cams offered really need to be lob final polished before they are installed. If not, then it more of the roller lifter noise against the cam lobs you are hearing instead.
Also, hydraulic roller lifters still, or do you go to solid roller lifters instead. With solid, you have to have free lash between the rockers and push rods, and this can cause more noise as well.
Also, hydraulic roller lifters still, or do you go to solid roller lifters instead. With solid, you have to have free lash between the rockers and push rods, and this can cause more noise as well.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 584
Likes: 2
From: Gilroy Ca.
If it were normal
You said a ticking noise as if it were only one.
If it were normal for that cam, all would tick the same.
If you are running stock rockers then they are bolt down. Meaning zero clearance. The hydraulic lifters are compressed and no noise should be heard.
Possible reasons for noise.
1) Push rods are too short and lifters are not compressed.
2) Push rods are too long and possibly the rockers are hitting the top
of the spring retainers.
3) If pushrods are the wrong length ( long or short) the tip of the
rocker may not be in the center of the valve stem. If it catches
the edge of the stem it will make noise.
4) Possible spring coil bind. Wrong springs for that lift cam.
Try another shop if they won't listen. Good Luck
If it were normal for that cam, all would tick the same.
If you are running stock rockers then they are bolt down. Meaning zero clearance. The hydraulic lifters are compressed and no noise should be heard.
Possible reasons for noise.
1) Push rods are too short and lifters are not compressed.
2) Push rods are too long and possibly the rockers are hitting the top
of the spring retainers.
3) If pushrods are the wrong length ( long or short) the tip of the
rocker may not be in the center of the valve stem. If it catches
the edge of the stem it will make noise.
4) Possible spring coil bind. Wrong springs for that lift cam.
Try another shop if they won't listen. Good Luck
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 202
You said a ticking noise as if it were only one.
If it were normal for that cam, all would tick the same.
If you are running stock rockers then they are bolt down. Meaning zero clearance. The hydraulic lifters are compressed and no noise should be heard.
Possible reasons for noise.
1) Push rods are too short and lifters are not compressed.
2) Push rods are too long and possibly the rockers are hitting the top
of the spring retainers.
3) If pushrods are the wrong length ( long or short) the tip of the
rocker may not be in the center of the valve stem. If it catches
the edge of the stem it will make noise.
4) Possible spring coil bind. Wrong springs for that lift cam.
Try another shop if they won't listen. Good Luck
If it were normal for that cam, all would tick the same.
If you are running stock rockers then they are bolt down. Meaning zero clearance. The hydraulic lifters are compressed and no noise should be heard.
Possible reasons for noise.
1) Push rods are too short and lifters are not compressed.
2) Push rods are too long and possibly the rockers are hitting the top
of the spring retainers.
3) If pushrods are the wrong length ( long or short) the tip of the
rocker may not be in the center of the valve stem. If it catches
the edge of the stem it will make noise.
4) Possible spring coil bind. Wrong springs for that lift cam.
Try another shop if they won't listen. Good Luck
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Race Director
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Push rod lengths need to be confirmed as the rockers are being re-installed!!!!!!!
The reason for this, some cams are reground, and since this can change the flat of the lobs to center line to decrease the distance, and even the head gasket thicknesses, heads if machined /can change the length of the push rods needed, you can end up with lifters not pre-loaded enough or over pre-loaded instead.
The reason for this, some cams are reground, and since this can change the flat of the lobs to center line to decrease the distance, and even the head gasket thicknesses, heads if machined /can change the length of the push rods needed, you can end up with lifters not pre-loaded enough or over pre-loaded instead.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,684
Likes: 107
From: Opelika Alabama
do not put heavy oil in you will be sorry, YES you can hear things in an aluminum motor you NEVER heard in a cast-iron, that being said, were the valve springs changed with the cam? stock rockers? were the shimed correctly for the cam? I have adjustable roller rockers ,if yo do, have they been adj, properly? go to the crane cams website and the have a method of adj, adjustables that is time consuming, but it is the best way to adjust already run lifters in an LS motor, BTW my 06 LS2 sounds like a sewing machine ALWAYS had. pulls 379 tq 381 rwhp. I'm going to put a cam and new springs in and I hope it gets a little quieter, but it's just the way these motors sound
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 2,125
Likes: 202
do not put heavy oil in you will be sorry, YES you can hear things in an aluminum motor you NEVER heard in a cast-iron, that being said, were the valve springs changed with the cam? stock rockers? were the shimed correctly for the cam? I have adjustable roller rockers ,if yo do, have they been adj, properly? go to the crane cams website and the have a method of adj, adjustables that is time consuming, but it is the best way to adjust already run lifters in an LS motor, BTW my 06 LS2 sounds like a sewing machine ALWAYS had. pulls 379 tq 381 rwhp. I'm going to put a cam and new springs in and I hope it gets a little quieter, but it's just the way these motors sound
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: WTB Kook 2" long tube 4 C5 TEXAS