mine had a ticking so i bought new headers and gm gaskets , turned out it was a bent pushrod .

 

Do you have gutted cats ? I gutted mines and it does the same ticking sound. Possibly could be parts of the inside of the cats rattling around in the exhaust. That's what I believe the sound from my car is. You can hear it loud inside the car and around 2k Rpm you can really hear it.

 

In regards to my question, the cats are fine.

 

I had a buddy of mine suggest that it might be the very top of the rod being bent, not seating right in the rocker arm or whatever.

 

check your rocker arm for missing trunnion bearings .

 

Rockers and bearings appear to be good - no stray bearings in heads or on magnetic oil drain plug.

 

I know this thread is old but any luck on finding what it is, just picked up a 06 GTO with the same issue there's a tapping noise at and passing 2k but not at idle..

 

I'd try hooking up a live scanner and watch the timing when you hear the noise. My WS6 has a weird tap around 2k and its actually pinging I'm hearing. Sounds like the engine tapping but when I put the scanner on it and drive it I can see the timing is at 36+ every time it starts to tap and if I push on the throttle a little harder the timing drops off and the tap is gone. Only does this in hotter weather.

 

I don't think my timings off, I just wanna know if any of the people that posted earlier found what was making that noise, a lsx builder told Me it's a bearing, master techs tell me lifter.. idk if should waste money on head gaskets and head bolts or start saving for a motor..

 

That sound is identical to the cold valve train/piston slip that so many LS-1's come right from the factory with (Vettes, Camaros, Firebirds, etc.). It usually goes away as soon as the car is warmed up. I wonder if this 2,000 rpm variant is related to the same condition as the engine ages or gets some wear and tear?

 

ANy update for this?is it the lifter the real cause??