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Ticking at certain RPM range

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Old 10-13-2010, 08:15 AM
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Default Ticking at certain RPM range

I'm trying to determine a ticking/clicking sound coming from the engine. It's only really noticeable between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm. Most distinctive at 2,500 rpm. It tends to tick 1-2-3-4 micropause 1-2-3-4 micropause 1-2-3-4.....etc. Can't really hear so much at idle over the normal cammed LS1 sounds.



I plan to pull the valve cover later tonight, but does anybody think that this sounds like a bad rocker arm or broken valve spring? The motor runs fine, pulls hard to 6,000 rpm (fyi - I'm not revving that high until I know what the problem is). So, not sure. Any help is greatly appreciated!

**Note: Video is dark because I took this morning on iphone driving to work. Hey, at least I wasn't texting!!
Old 10-13-2010, 08:44 AM
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Subscribing. I am having the same exact issue. I'd like to hear some input on this.
Old 10-13-2010, 05:42 PM
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Default same here

like to know also have same noises. from 2500 to 3500. Seems to happen at more than 40% thottle while driving.
Old 10-21-2010, 06:37 AM
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I am having the exact same thing with my LS6. I had excessive valvetrain noise and shortened my pushrods. Now I can hear this tick with semi quiet valvetrain. It is more pronounced from underneath the car. I'm scared it's premature rod knock or spun bearing.
Old 10-21-2010, 03:39 PM
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Still courious on this one.
Old 10-21-2010, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by -T-
I am having the exact same thing with my LS6. I had excessive valvetrain noise and shortened my pushrods. Now I can hear this tick with semi quiet valvetrain. It is more pronounced from underneath the car. I'm scared it's premature rod knock or spun bearing.
How's your oil pressure? I would think with a spun bearing, you'd be losing oil pressure. My pressure has been consistent since I built the motor.
Old 10-21-2010, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by KevinR
Still courious on this one.
I'm going to work on this issue this weekend. Plan is to check: rocker arms, valve springs, spark plugs (make sure they are tight), exhaust leaks, and possibly a bad catalytic converter.
Old 10-21-2010, 08:11 PM
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I many engines you can hear the fuel injectors ticking at certain rpms's. Maybe that's what some of you are hearing.
Old 10-23-2010, 09:38 AM
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Originally Posted by RedHotG8
I many engines you can hear the fuel injectors ticking at certain rpms's. Maybe that's what some of you are hearing.
Definitely not injectors. I know what injectors sound like and this is not that sound.
Old 10-23-2010, 07:53 PM
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Well, I had the same issue 2 weeks ago, I just finished the job today, for me it was a cam with ruts in it, I did my valve springs, lifters, polished heads, cam and pushrods since I was down to my lifters looking for the issue.. here are the links to my threads, might shed some light on your situation... it did sound simular. good luck
-Initial thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...l#post13968845

Determination thread:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...you-think.html

Hope it helps,

Ian
Old 10-24-2010, 11:34 AM
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If you have paper header gaskets start there. I had a ticking that I swore was internal, and ended up being just a header gasket.

Get the multilayered steel gaskets if you dont have them. FWIW.
Old 10-24-2010, 11:39 AM
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That's definately not a rod knock. It's either in the valve train, or maybe even spark arcing.
Old 11-01-2010, 05:36 PM
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Pulled the valve cover on the driver's side and found the exhaust valve tip on #1 cylinder has been scored. I'm thinking this is the problem. Here's the link to my other thread with pictures of the valve tip:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ng-engine.html
Old 11-01-2010, 08:44 PM
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I have the same problem after my cam swap. I have noise real bad around 2500 at part throttle. No miss just the noise.
Old 11-01-2010, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by BAD2000TA
Pulled the valve cover on the driver's side and found the exhaust valve tip on #1 cylinder has been scored. I'm thinking this is the problem. Here's the link to my other thread with pictures of the valve tip:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generatio...ng-engine.html
That sucks man. Keep us posted with what you found out. Looks like I need to do the same thing.
Old 11-02-2010, 12:26 PM
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i have the same noise but i didnt have a damaged valve ii already took of the heads and everything looked fine im replacing lifters hoping that was the problem
Old 11-07-2010, 07:37 PM
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Pulled the heads and found two lifters chewed-up (I'll post pictures when I get them downloaded). One lifter is significantly worse than the other and the corresponding cam lobe is also bad. I'm going to pull the cam out this week and see if it can be salvaged. Really don't feel like spending more money!!
Old 11-07-2010, 10:23 PM
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Here's the pictures of the damaged lifter and the cam lobe:





So, why did this happen? Any thoughts? Bad lobe on cam? Bad lifter?
Old 11-07-2010, 10:26 PM
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I'm sure the cam is no good, if you use it with new lifters it will fail again. Usually that's caused by not getting oiled properly, so you need to make sure the oil passages are clear before you install a new cam and lifters.
Old 12-16-2010, 11:51 PM
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Was there any other ideas on what causes ticking in this RPM range? Mine is still clattering.


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