99z28ls

I just replaced the stock cam with a torquer v2 camshaft with new oil pump and timing chain and installed pac 1518 springs with 7.4 pushrods as recommended by the sponsor. I have a loud tick that occurs all the time it doesnt matter if the engine is cold or warm. its more prodominate on the top passenger side. I dropped the pan to see if I pinched the o ring was pinched but it looked like it was brand new. I used the dowel rod method to hold up the lifters. any ideas of what it could be? im willing to check everything at this point. I have put about 30 miles on it to see if it would change, it rises with rpm.

J-Train

Did you torque down the rocker arms properly? I just did a TSP 228R and PAC 1215's and went with 7.4's as well by recomendation from TSP. My valvetrain is quiteter than ever to be honest. My car when stock had slight sewing machine valvetrain noise until warm, not now, I was really expecting it to be worse from what I had heard. Guess I just got really lucky with the pushrod length (I did not check it) I know there are certain procedures for torquing the rockers down, I kind of did take the easy way out, but I still think its the same idea. I tightened all the bolts in small increments until the springs were compressed then went to 22ft lbs , then spun the engine check all and they were fine, spun the engine a couple more times in different spots, and checked them all at each stroke of the engine.

smokeshow72

There have been reports of stock lifters failing to pump back up after cam swaps, but improperly seated / torqued rockers are a possibility. Are they stock rockers? Do they have the stock trunnion assembly, or an aftermarket (Comp) setup? If you have stock rockers I think you could be stroked out and the clicking is the "D" on the shaft whacking the "D" on the bearing assemblies.

C

99z28ls

stock rockers, i tightened them down with 1/4 ratchet then torqued them to 22. I rotated the engine by hand and check to see if there was coil bind and there isnt.

smokeshow72

I'm not talking about coil bind in the spring, I'm talking about the rocker trunnion shaft; I think that (with over .600 valve lift in that cam) you may have reached the end of the rocker travel. Somebody with GM training (or a Comp guy or EPS or Advanced Induction or whoever) would know for sure. All I am sure of is that both Texas Speed and Comp Cams said that I "must" replace the stock trunnion shafts to run a cam as big as mine is. This is a $150 kit that is a snap to install, so if it is the problem, it is an "easy" fix.

C

99z28ls

alright Ill have to check that out. any other things I should check?

KevinR

When I did my cam swap, I had the same thing happen to me. Unfortunately it turned out to be a lifter. Can you get a video of the sound and post it?

southpaw0314

iTrader: (5)

if it was the shaft wouldnt all of them be making the same noise?

99z28ls

did yours tick when cold and warmed up? I have read that lifters only tick when its warmed up.

smokeshow72

Did you take the exhaust off at all? Could be a poor seal between the header and the head.

Loose spark plug not sealing?

Did you put the cam retainer back on?

Torque the cam sprocket back on?

Did you check the length of all of the pushrods? Maybe you got a mismatched set?

Bad lifter that hasn't pumped back up?

smokeshow72

I would think so, unless it is right on the ragged edge where manufacturing tolerances allow some to make contact while others don't. Without hearing the car I don't know that they're not all making noise.

I think a dead lifter is much more likely; how many miles on the short block?

KevinR

Yeah, it was when it warmed up. Someone mentioned exhaust, which would def be worth checking into as well if you did have the exhaust off for any reason.

99z28ls

I didnt remove the exhaust

99z28ls

I know i torqued the cam plate back on, I cant remember if i torqued the cam gear back on though.

smokeshow72

Call Texas Speed and ask them if they know of people running that cam with stock trunnions; if they say "yeah, we do that all of the time" then you can rule that out and start zeroing in on lifters / pushrods. Double check that the rockers are tight before you go crazy.

C

99z28ls

I have rechecked the rocker bolts and they were all still at 22. I didnt check to see if the pushrods were able to move. what noise does a spun lifter make?

02anti_vnm

iTrader: (32)

Sounds like its defiantly a lifter collapsed probably from running stock lifters on a bigger cam. Pull the heads and replace them with ls7 lifters. Also you don't "have" to do the trunnion upgrade I have been running stock rockers on the past 3 .600+ lift cams I have had the current one being .638 .642 lift no problems what so ever

smokeshow72

^^ that is great info on the trunnion deal; thanks for posting your experience!

Dead lifter sounds pretty much like an adjustable valvetrain before the lash is set: clack-clack-clack-clack

I would think that'd be LOUD, though; loud enough that you wouldn't drive the car. You need to get some video posted up.

C

99z28ls

ill get one up shortly

99z28ls

i know they are not the best quality since I had to use a phone but you can still kinda hear it.