2010 C6 Grand Sport M6 — Loud Tick After F-35 Cam Kit Install

Just wrapped up my first cam kit swap and ran into a loud ticking issue I can’t track down. Hoping to get some direction before I start tearing deeper.



Setup:

-TSP F-35 Camshaft-kit

-CHE trunnions

-Chevrolet Performance “Caddy” lifters w/ oem trays

-New header gasket + ARP header bolts

-8 new exhaust valves

-Dual .660” springs

-7.400 pushrods
- OEM.050 Head Gaskets




What happened:

1st start: Fired right up, 60 psi oil pressure. After ~3 sec, loud tick developed on the passenger side. Shut down at 10 sec.



2nd start: Tick began immediately, shut down at 10 sec.



3rd start (cold): 60 psi oil pressure, tick started after ~2 sec, ran ~2 min, tick stayed constant.



What I’ve checked:
-Verified pushrod length and preload (in spec)

-22ftlbs 1-1 3/8 spins

-EO/IC method for rocker install

-Pushrod tip alignment confirmed

-CHE trunnions installed correctly

-Manifold gasket + ARP header bolts → ruled out exhaust leak





Extra details:

-Lifters were primed in oil for several days before install (not bled down)

-Cam is close to my previous grind, so startup was smooth

-Consistently localized to passenger side

Is piston-to-valve contact a consideration? My passenger side did have some valve marks on the pistons. I measured piston-to-valve clearance and measure the upper acceptable limit.(w/ clay method) I figure the old springs to have been the culprit of the piston slap marks

-old springs - unknown mileage use and spec

-Previous cam was aggressive(238/246)

-no tick with old cam

-I know heads have been resurfaced.



I ran the engine with the valve cover off and didn't notice anything noteworthy

Video of everything mentioned:
At this point, I’m leaning toward a lifter issue even though they’re new. Before I pull the heads, is there anything else obvious I should be looking at?

 

I found that when I did my cam install a few years ago, the lifters were ticking very loudly on first start and would not quiet down. Was very concerning at first.

But all that was needed was to rev the engine up to about 2500 rpm's or so to get the lifters fully pumped up and the internal pistons of the lifters fully freely moving. Lifters immediately quieted down and engine sounded normal. Doesn't take long. Just rev 2500 or so until the lifter tick goes away.

Worth a shot if you have verified everything is okay and installed correctly.

 

After heads were resurfaced, did you check PTV clearance? How much did you shave and what thickness head gasket did you use?

Also, were new seats put in with the exhaust valves. One way to save it is to have the valve seats recut to gain some clearance.

 

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I hope so, I probably will end up doing that, I just need confirmation that a bad lifter won't be damaging my new cam, or a valve isnt tapping somewhere. Or at least that I'm not missing anything else before I possibly damage something. The 60psi of Oil pressure does give me reassurance.

 

I did not resurface the heads; I could just see they were worked on at one point due to the circular marks. I did clean the surface by hand
I did check PTV clearance, it was just at the upper acceptable limit(tight)
Chevrolet Performance 0.051 gaskets were used
The exhaust valves were hand-lapped.

I'm hesitant to think it's the valves. since I did not have this issue with old cam(similar specs)...And would PTV contact produce the noise I am hearing at idle? I could maybe check if the new valves have any marks with a borescope.

 

how many times has it been started? Have you held the throttle at 2500 rpm as someone said above?
I soaked my lifters for a week prior to install....and mine were quiet. However, back in the day on my 5.0 stang, I think I soaked them for a day? or significantly less as I forget know, and I had that same tick. My buddy who was a mechanic (I used his shop to do new lifters) walked over and held the throttle open at around 2500 rpm I figure and sure enough, the tick went away after maybe 10 or 15 seconds I am guessing.

 

Wow never heard off that. But even if there is no oil in the lifter its not that loud and its a different sound. From my experience anyways. That engines needs to come apart. Just because lifters are new don't mean there good. A lot off BS parts out there. Just saying. Let us know what you find.

 

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Ouch, that is what I do not want to hear.. Do you think I should follow the advice of others, revving up to 2500rpm for a bit to see if it clears out, or could this cause too much damage. Considering:
- Bottom-End was untouched
- Top-End installation and tolerances were verified(by me)
- Has 60psi oil pressure
-lifters are OEM Chevrolet performance lifters...Not Cheap unfortunately
would like to add tick has quieted down marginally since first start up but remains at a consistent and concerning volume.

 

I would not. You have oil psi at 60 and its that loud no way, That's just me. Like i said even without or low oil psi it should not sound like that. I got distracted when i was changing my oil and forgot to put it in. After about 2 sec the oil light came on and i realized i forgot to put it in. Even that did not sound anything like yours. Its your car, do what you fell is comfortable.

 

I agree with this. I had a lifter tick after some head work, and it was much quieter than your sound. It did go away with about 2 seconds throttle up to 2500 rpm for me. I don't think it's going to work for you, but if you've run the car for 2+ minutes now, is one more start and 10-15 seconds more going to cause enough damage to change your situation? I would guess no, but there is some risk. The passenger side head is the easier one to pull back off, so I'd probably just do that.

 

Maybe one (or more) lifters havent pumped up or have air trapped and it just needs to run for a bit…. Def sounds like a lifter issue. Good luck