I bought this 01 Trans Am. The car has long tubes, bolts ons, and some heads/cam work. I don't know anything about it because I bought it from a bank it was a repo. It was making a noise from the top of the engine. The car backfires and has a loud tapping noise coming from the top of the engine but actually runs pretty good and holds good oil pressure. I thought a pushrod was bent but it sounded louder than what I normally hear out of a bent pushrod. Anyways...we pulled all the pushrods and the first one on the right side is worn down right toward the bottom. You can tell in the picture where it is worn at. What could cause this??

 

You talking about the silver area? Its rubbing the hole in the head as its moving up and down. It could be flexing or the hole/pushrod could be an incorrect diameter.

 

Yes, the silver area. You can feel that it is worn down through the silver area.

 

Its from rubbing the cylinder head

 

What would cause that? Could it cause a loud tapping noise?

 

Can you see anything down the lifter hole? Since that is the bottom, not sure it would hit the head as it looks to close to the lower end but honestly hard to tell via photo. I would try and examine the pushrod hole as best you can, a boroscope will help if you can get your hands on one.

 

OP, you sure it didnt get turned around, you sure this isnt the top of the pushrod??? Im talking about how it was placed in the engine, the silver worn area was obviously facing upward.

 

That would make more sense but the first post says bottom (had to re-read, getting old you know )