PLEASE HELP!! Hella engine ticking noise
Check the car for a header leak or something simple like that. You would be surprised how many lifter ticks have been fixed by tightening theTheader bolts. This may not be the problem here but it will only take a few mins to check.
Tighten header bolt again
Check all spark plug wire
Open both valve cover and check for rocker arm bolt
Worst case:
Take the front cover and check for oil pump O-ring.
My main concern is the head. Those lifter ARE for LS1 not LS7 (aftermarket OEM). Hopefully I don't have to take them out.
Here's something I don't quite understand. For the first 40 min everything is fine with the car. Oil pressure stays at 60# on gauge and no noise. What is that now oil pressure drop, ticking noise getting louder, tachometer don't work, hone don't work?
Did the tachometer get signal from the cam sensor or crank sensor? Is that possible something loose inside the front cover, like the oil pump or cam gear?
I have seen a cam bolt back out and start hitting the front cover. Check the front cover with the hammer.
And if you have the preload on the lifters any where close you should be fine with the LS1 lifters.
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Tighten header bolt again
Check all spark plug wire
Open both valve cover and check for rocker arm bolt
Worst case:
Take the front cover and check for oil pump O-ring.
My main concern is the head. Those lifter ARE for LS1 not LS7 (aftermarket OEM). Hopefully I don't have to take them out.
Here's something I don't quite understand. For the first 40 min everything is fine with the car. Oil pressure stays at 60# on gauge and no noise. What is that now oil pressure drop, ticking noise getting louder, tachometer don't work, hone don't work?
Did the tachometer get signal from the cam sensor or crank sensor? Is that possible something loose inside the front cover, like the oil pump or cam gear?
What do you mean by aftermarket OEM?
Are they GM or some other brand?
I thought it's a header leak so I checked all the header bolts. They're tight, I can't every turn them. We've no idea where the hell those smoke coming from. Any clue?
Also, the tachometer STILL doesn't work. Will it related to the cam sensor or crank sensor? Any idea?
BTW, Abnormal noise from a non-stock setup is normal. Especially valvetrain noise.

Also, excessive smoke (regardless of location) on a n20 car indicates "death", at this point valve train issues are beyond your problems, a p0300 indicates misfires on startup on the first 1000 ignition events (low compression based on not enough oil psi?) , if you continue to have issues that are not specifically cylinder related, then there is something mechanically causing your problems. whether its an improperly installed o-ring (I replaced mine after my build and gained 15 to 25 psi across the board), Just my two cents on the issue.
Like previously stated, there can be other issues with cam bolts backing out, and also remember, you cam sensor is at the back of the block behind the valley cover.
Whatever happens, let us know.
Last edited by ReedBooth; May 26, 2009 at 02:15 AM.
-Trent
A different machine shop can do a complete rebuild for good price. Is it worth the money to rebuild or just look for a different block?
What I would do is get a written quotation with all the details and compare to shortblocks from different companies.
You can find shortblocks forged for about 2800>3200$
Look at LME, HKE, SDPC etc....
Don't rush into anything, 1 day and some calls/e-mails can give you a better picture.
What I would do is get a written quotation with all the details and compare to shortblocks from different companies.
You can find shortblocks forged for about 2800>3200$
Look at LME, HKE, SDPC etc....
Don't rush into anything, 1 day and some calls/e-mails can give you a better picture.









