Tick after cam install.
Tick after cam install. I know there are a few threads out there with this problem, but I dont want to hijack anyones thread. A few weeks ago I did a cam swap and thats when this tick started. At first it was a very low tick, I thought it was normal because from what I've read LS1's make alot of valvetrain noise after cam swaps. Yesterday I took the car out for a ride and I let warm up first and the ticking was low as usual, after a couple miles the ticking got extreamly loud. It sounds like something is loose inside the engine. The oil pressure is the same as before I put the cam in, it stays around 40lbs. I'm not real sure what it could be if the oil pressure is fine, could my rocker arms be loose? The cam is an MTI X1 230/227 591/571 if that helps, and I used 7.4 pushrods.
edit: I found the problam, the o-ring for the oil pump pick up tube was messed up I also switched to a heavier oil and the engine no longer ticks
edit: I found the problam, the o-ring for the oil pump pick up tube was messed up I also switched to a heavier oil and the engine no longer ticks
Last edited by Mr. Trick; Sep 21, 2009 at 11:11 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lexington, KY
I would definitely check the rockers. But did you replace the lifters? The reason I ask is because I ran into the same problem shortly after my heads/cam/LS7 lifter swap, except it would do it for a few minutes then quiet back down, and only after a cold start. It would develop a very loud tick a few miles down the road then go away. It did this a few times and hasn't happened since. I would say your pushrods are probably too short, just a guess. This wouldn't make it suddenly start ticking though.
Did you loctite (blue) the rocker bolts and torque to 22ft. lbs?
Did you verify your valvetrain geometry?
Of course you're going to get a little more valvetrain noise after a cam install. Especially if you've gone to dual springs or put in hardened pushrods. But it shouldn't be extremely loud as you put it.
Did you verify your valvetrain geometry?
Of course you're going to get a little more valvetrain noise after a cam install. Especially if you've gone to dual springs or put in hardened pushrods. But it shouldn't be extremely loud as you put it.
On The Tree
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 121
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From: ardmore ok
not for sure about the pushrods but i can tell you that the stock lifters will tick with a cam swap. i should have gone and spent the extra money and bought the good ones. my shop said it is not hurting anything for them to to tick. it is that they were not designed for the lift i am putting them under. they will work fine, they will just tick. i have found that mobil 1 10-40 full syn cuts out mine until i need to change my oil again. anything less in viscosity and it ticks like heck.
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when you do a cam swap you need to get the right size pushrods so you can set the proper preload. my preload is at .100 and i have relatively no ticking with double springs. my injectors are louder and i have xer lobes.
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I started the car yesterday at my lunch break and the ticking was low again, although I didnt have a chance to warm it up. I'm going to check the rockers this weekend and put blue locktite. I'm also going to get a pushrod lenght to see if I need a different lenght pushrod.
not for sure about the pushrods but i can tell you that the stock lifters will tick with a cam swap. i should have gone and spent the extra money and bought the good ones. my shop said it is not hurting anything for them to to tick. it is that they were not designed for the lift i am putting them under. they will work fine, they will just tick. i have found that mobil 1 10-40 full syn cuts out mine until i need to change my oil again. anything less in viscosity and it ticks like heck.
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From: Lexington, KY
If it comes and goes I don't think it's the pushrods, though I agree they are most likely too short and would contribute to more valvetrain noise in general. It also wouldn't be a loose rocker. Once it's loose it's going to make all kinds of noise until it's fixed. Sounds like a lifter or oil pressure issue to me.
If it comes and goes I don't think it's the pushrods, though I agree they are most likely too short and would contribute to more valvetrain noise in general. It also wouldn't be a loose rocker. Once it's loose it's going to make all kinds of noise until it's fixed. Sounds like a lifter or oil pressure issue to me.
