ivan_key

I have a 1998 trans am m6 with 144,000 miles. It has always ran great untill the last 100 miles. I recently put new pacesetter long tube headers on it about 2000 miles ago, well about 100 miles ago it started ticking after being hard on it a bit and it since then turned into a loud tapping. Well I changed the gaskets out again with new gm gaskets and put new locking bolts in it bc the other ones backed there self out. I start it up and its still a loud tapping sound and at high rpm ( 5000-6000) it bogs down and sort of sputters. So I'm guessing its a bent push rod or a lifter. Should I just tear it apart and put a heads cam package on it and some ls7 lifters or with the mileage should I look for a lower mileage ls1 long block or lq9 long block? I only can afford to spend about 2000 dollars at max on this. Thanks for any help in advance

99 Blue Bird

iTrader: (3)

hmmm.. is your oil pressure gauge dancing around at all at an idol?

Circa307

iTrader: (11)

doesnt everyones? lol jk wondering about a high mileage h/c swap myself.

99 Blue Bird

iTrader: (3)

lol i hope not.

ivan_key

Yea lately it has been moving around a lot. But the lowest it gets is around 20 psi at idle fully warmed up.

ivan_key

Update: I just went to auto zone and checked the codes, it has a couple o2 sensor codes but that's probably bc I'm not running the rear ones I'm just running the fronts. I'm not sure if the front o2 sensors being bad would make it bog at high rpm but I'm betting that its a bent push rod or bad lifter making it do that bc of the ticking/ tapping sound.

ivan_key

I just pulled the valve cover and it had a really bent push rod almost in a s shape. It was on the second to last on the driver side. Do you think it could have messed anything else up. The car runs great besides high rpm and the rocker looks good

99 Blue Bird

iTrader: (3)

not sayin u did but you could of bent a valve since you bent a pushrod? doubt it though.