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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 04:13 PM
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Hey guys, I have a ticking noise on the motor, coming from the drivers side head area towards the front of the car. It started about 6 months ago. I can't for the life of me figure out what it is, I replaced valve springs with new patriots about 8 months ago, replaced my lifters with LS7's and LS2 lifter guides about a month ago. Also replaced exhaust manifold gaskets, spark plugs, and switched to LS6 PCV and valley cover the same time as the lifters.

The car is a 2000 Trans Am with close to 85,000 miles, installed a G5X2 cam with rollmaster double roller, patriot gold valve springs, 7.4 thunder hardened pushrods, all about 4 years ago. Put a new o-ring on the oil pump pickup when doing all of this as well. I'm sure there is other stuff I forgot too. The ticking seems to be louder on a cold start, but never fully goes away. Oil pressure is fine as well.

You guys have any idea what could be the source? Any info appreciated.
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:19 PM
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I have the same problem. seems to show up on cars that have cam swaps. I would love to know what is causing it.
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 11:52 PM
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Yeah, I just cant help but think I can't be the only one, surely someone else has found the culprit.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 05:29 AM
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Same problem here very odd...
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 09:57 AM
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Originally Posted by tc00
Hey guys, I have a ticking noise on the motor, coming from the drivers side head area towards the front of the car. It started about 6 months ago. I can't for the life of me figure out what it is, I replaced valve springs with new patriots about 8 months ago, replaced my lifters with LS7's and LS2 lifter guides about a month ago. Also replaced exhaust manifold gaskets, spark plugs, and switched to LS6 PCV and valley cover the same time as the lifters.

The car is a 2000 Trans Am with close to 85,000 miles, installed a G5X2 cam with rollmaster double roller, patriot gold valve springs, 7.4 thunder hardened pushrods, all about 4 years ago. Put a new o-ring on the oil pump pickup when doing all of this as well. I'm sure there is other stuff I forgot too. The ticking seems to be louder on a cold start, but never fully goes away. Oil pressure is fine as well.

You guys have any idea what could be the source? Any info appreciated.


Not sure the exact terminology, but prob the Evap valve mounted on the intake towards the front of the intake on the driver side.

They are known to make some noise
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 10:19 AM
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its an LS1 with a cam, they make noise.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 10:22 AM
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Originally Posted by DevilDougWS6
its an LS1 with a cam, they make noise.
A cam makes noise throughout the entire valvetrain, the OP described a localized sound.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 10:24 AM
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missed that part. probably a lazy lifter. how loud is it?
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 10:31 AM
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Same problem here...mine is always quiet on startup but once i gets hot it starts ticking. Started after my h/c/i swap, since ive replaced the lifters, checked the header gaskets, and havent been able to find it. New shortblock is going in soon though, hopefully it goes away.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 01:36 PM
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It's loud enough that I can distinctly notice it over my sewing machine valve train. When I replaced the lifters, I couldn't see any deep scores or damage on any of the stock lifters. Didn't think about the evap assembly, do you think it could be faulty, as in replacing the assembly could eliminate the sound?
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 02:05 PM
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i have this exact issue as well, it actually gets VERY loud when im driving and the car is hot...
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 03:18 PM
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See mine is sort of the opposite, I can't really hear it very well when driving or when the RPM's are up at all. It's loudest on a cold startup and tends to melllow out a little bit the warmer it gets.

Unplugged the evap solenoid, sound didn't change, so I'm guessing that's not it. I'm starting to think it may just be piston slap.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 04:01 PM
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Mine started after I started tuning my rebuilt engine. At that point all it had was a cam other than stock. I pulled the heads and put in some ls7 lifter along with some head work. No difference in the sound. The next thing I'm checking on is detonation from my tune since it only does it when under small load.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 05:15 PM
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Tunning didnt fix anything. After a few good runs the noise becomes louder.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 05:16 PM
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I've developed this problem over the last few months as well. I've had the cam in for about 4 years, and the patriot duals for about 2. It’s more like a rapid puffing sound rather than a ticking. I only hear it when I'm accelerating with the driver side window down next to a curb.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 06:56 PM
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For me It's on cylinder 1. I did a ballance test by killing the injectors. When #1 is killed the sounds goes away. I'm starting to think its a piston pin.
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 09:30 PM
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A better question is... has anyone actually had problems emerge from these noises?
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 11:33 PM
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i've noticed it for the last 6 months, 2kmi or so. I'm going to keep driving it untill I decide what I'm going to do. Just may be an excuse for MORE POWER!!
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 11:42 PM
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Mine was also doing that, replaced the lifters and it was better but still done it. I finally ignored what comp cam said about what pushrods to use and bought a checker and done some measuring. With what comp said to use I was only running about .030 or a little less preload on the lifters. Stock has almost .100 preload. After changing pushrod length to get me up to about .080 preload almost all the noise is gone. Have a little of the sewing machine sound but no ticking. It's normal for the sewing machine sound because of the crazy lobes that these cams have but the ticking will most always be fixed by the proper preload.
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Old Apr 1, 2009 | 09:43 AM
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I pulled my pan and found that cylinder #1 had a "shifted" bearing. It didn't spin, just moved and wore funny. Probably from high RPM's. The crank journal is fine, it just wore the bearing to the copper. I'm going to polish my crank, get some new bolts, measure a few things and put it back together.
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