Generation III External Engine LS1 | LS6 | Bolt-Ons | Intakes | Exhaust | Ignition | Accessories
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

ls1 lifter or rod knock?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 15, 2018 | 11:49 PM
  #1  
hollaback6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default ls1 lifter or rod knock?

hey guys well i have the heads already pulled off the gto and already ordered new ls7 lifters, trays, new gm mls headgaskets and new btr .660 valve springs. I didnt see any issues with the lifters though this is my first time every pulling apart and inspecting a pushrod motor. i took this video before i pulled the heads off. does this sound like rod knock or a lifter issue?

Edit: also i drained oil and didnt see any metal shavings in the oil.



Last edited by hollaback6; Jan 16, 2018 at 12:10 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2018 | 12:05 AM
  #2  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,308
Likes: 3,625
From: Central Cal.
Default

That almost sounds too heavy to be a lifter.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2018 | 01:01 AM
  #3  
kingtal0n's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 19
From: florida
Default

start pulling plug wires to see if it goes away on one cylinder
also rev the engine to see if it changes pitch or tone based on accelerating or decelerating

these things indicate bottom end / bearing typically
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2018 | 10:30 AM
  #4  
bbond105's Avatar
TECH Junkie
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 716
From: Poplarville, MS
Default

Originally Posted by kingtal0n
start pulling plug wires to see if it goes away on one cylinder
also rev the engine to see if it changes pitch or tone based on accelerating or decelerating

these things indicate bottom end / bearing typically
That's hard to do when op already has the engine apart.
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2018 | 11:55 AM
  #5  
Suncc49's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 487
Likes: 4
Default

whole engine is vibrating there btw... do you own a stethoscope? can clearly hear if it is a lifter using those.

I am going to guess that is a rod knocking
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2018 | 12:18 PM
  #6  
hollaback6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default

yea i guess i should have waited to pull it apart. engine has a torquer v3 cam so thats why there is a lot of vibration or movement in the engine. i guess all i can do is put the new parts in and put it back together and pray it was a lifter.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2018 | 05:04 AM
  #7  
RockinWs6's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 30
Default

You wouldn't SEE anything with the lifters as far as a noise like this. What you should have done was check the preload on each lifter before taking it apart. It sounds like a stuck lifter to me so I think you're ok BUT sometimes a leaking o ring at the oil pump will cause noisy lifters too. So you maybe looking at more work to fix it. Plus the fact the cam was changed raises a lot more questions. Was the oil pump and o ring replaced etc.
Reply
Old Jan 20, 2018 | 08:36 PM
  #8  
01CamaroSSTx's Avatar
11 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,020
Likes: 2,299
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

I think it's an issue with the valve train. I've heard the sound of a broken rod and seen what it did to my LS1 block. Since you have the heads off you should be able to see if your pistons are making contact with your valves.

It also makes since to get the heads checked out and new valve seals put in since you've got them off the car. Be sure and inspect all your lifters and rocker arms carefully, also check all of your pushrods for straightness. I too feel that you may have a bad lifter that's making that sound and if so I'd replace them all. When the new cam was installed did anyone verify correct pushrod length and P-V clearance?

Good luck with it and keep us posted!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 23, 2018 | 12:55 PM
  #9  
hollaback6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default

the cam swap was done before i owned the car. not sure if p-v was checked but it has ran fine for about 18k miles before this sound started. going to take the heads in to get checked out tomorrow and after i get them back i am going to start putting it back together.
Reply
Old Jan 23, 2018 | 03:46 PM
  #10  
kingtal0n's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,261
Likes: 19
From: florida
Default

Someone I knew had a dirty engine with 100k on the clock. Front of the engine was filthy and it looked like it was leaking. Inside it was pristine, well maintained.

They took it to the dealer for a valve cover gasket job. The service tech opened the valve cover without cleaning the engine bay and some dirt got into the engine and it failed a year later, spun bearings with filth embedded. It isn't easy to prove that the dirt from one or two years ago was the cause; even poor service is "safe from being called out".

IF you don't know the cleanliness aspect condition of the service, there is always the chance that dirt plays a role in engine decline. It is, without a doubt, the single unifying factor across the board for all engines which rely on oil systems: Since the moment it "turns on" there is a war against dirt and filth that plays out with the filtration systems of the vehicle. That also, when opened up, i.e. "cam swaps" and "internal work" is the best opportunity for spun bearings, trashed blocks.

Ideally we would all have clean rooms, I am not saying this is possible but it really isn't hard to set something up with tarps/fans and a filter.
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2018 | 02:21 AM
  #11  
AutomagicLS1's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (18)
 
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,429
Likes: 1
From: Spring Hill,Kansas
Default

Sounds to me like a lifter. Pull a plug wire off one by one and start the engine. If it's a bearing and you kill the hole its affecting the pressure off the bearing from cylinder firing will quiet the bearing noise quite a bit. Or you could cut the filter and it will tell you instantly if there is bearing inside
Reply
Old Jan 24, 2018 | 09:23 AM
  #12  
hollaback6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by kingtal0n
Someone I knew had a dirty engine with 100k on the clock. Front of the engine was filthy and it looked like it was leaking. Inside it was pristine, well maintained.

They took it to the dealer for a valve cover gasket job. The service tech opened the valve cover without cleaning the engine bay and some dirt got into the engine and it failed a year later, spun bearings with filth embedded. It isn't easy to prove that the dirt from one or two years ago was the cause; even poor service is "safe from being called out".

IF you don't know the cleanliness aspect condition of the service, there is always the chance that dirt plays a role in engine decline. It is, without a doubt, the single unifying factor across the board for all engines which rely on oil systems: Since the moment it "turns on" there is a war against dirt and filth that plays out with the filtration systems of the vehicle. That also, when opened up, i.e. "cam swaps" and "internal work" is the best opportunity for spun bearings, trashed blocks.

Ideally we would all have clean rooms, I am not saying this is possible but it really isn't hard to set something up with tarps/fans and a filter.
I definitely understand that the engine needs to be clean. Paper towels were stuffed into the lifter areas to catch anything from falling in. Luckily i have a garage that keeps pretty much closed all day so it wont allow dirt from the outside and such to get inside the motor.
Reply
Old Jan 27, 2018 | 09:28 PM
  #13  
01CamaroSSTx's Avatar
11 Second Club
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 6,020
Likes: 2,299
From: Conroe, Texas
Default

Cleanliness is next to godliness.....
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2018 | 06:43 PM
  #14  
garygnu's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,445
Likes: 4
Default

check push rods for straightness ,also check rocker arm pivot bearing .
Reply
Old Feb 25, 2018 | 10:47 PM
  #15  
hollaback6's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Default

well I put it back together with new lifters and its still knocking. I am almost 100 percent positive that its the bottom end. looks like i will be putting a 6.0 or a 408 stroker.
Reply
Old Feb 28, 2018 | 06:50 PM
  #16  
NHRAFORMULA00's Avatar
10 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 13
From: Manteno,illinois
Default

That is a ROD knocking.
Reply
Old Mar 4, 2018 | 06:54 AM
  #17  
td1168's Avatar
TECH Regular
10 Year Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 427
Likes: 3
From: Uniontown, Pa.
Default

That is definitely bottom end noise.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:46 PM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE