CarlostheBarbarian

Im getting lifter chatter on cold starts. Lasts for maybe 1/2 to 1 second, oil pressure kicks in and then the valve train is quiet. If I shut it down and re-start, its quiet as usual. Again, only getting this on cold starts. After first second on start the valve train is quiet.

HCI car with Johnson 2110 lifters set at .040 for preload. Running Amsoil zrod 10w-30 with PF46E filters. Rockers(stock) were torqued correctly.

Its an 04 z06...never had piston slap and old HC set up had LS7 lifters that were quiet on cold starts but ran a lot more preload.

Car runs good...pulls clean to 7000.

Main question is...is this a problem long term? Have about 500 miles on the set up so far. Oil/Filter look fine. Lifters just bleeding down?

Solutions? Little more preload(.040 was recommended by Johnson)?

It doesn't bother me if its just a cold start annoyance, but don't wanna beat up anything if I can solve the problem for a few more bucks.

Thanks in advance!

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

I am running Morel lifters. On the prior H/C setup I had, I set the lifters at a lighter preload. I had lifter clack for a couple of seconds every cold start. My current build, with the AFR heads, I set them (same lifters) slightly deeper and have never had the problem even after winter storage.

Not sure what range the Johnson lifters have for preload as I thought it was very narrow. Is this a recent build or an older build that only recently started this?

I also had a problem once where I had the car on the highway coming home from Bowling Green and ran a lot of sixth gear. When I got home it would clack on cold start. That turned out to be carbon build-up on the pistons that was rocking the piston when cold. Cleaned out the carbon and never had the issue since.

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

I saw in your post you're running the recommended preload from Johnson. How long does it take to go away? Full warm or just a minute?

CarlostheBarbarian

Yeah Im not too sure either. 2110's total travel isn't far off an LS7 I believe. The build is new. Pistons were cleaned off, so no build up there.

Its literally is a 1/2 second of chatter. As soon as my oil pressure gauge gets climbing after start up, the chatter completely goes silent. Seems like the lifters are emptied from sitting and as soon as they get pressure...all good.

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

Personally I would live with it then

CarlostheBarbarian

Yeah I probably am for now(Im assuming its harmless). If it drives me crazy I'll get a longer set of Manton's and see how it rolls.

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

20-30 more thousandths would probably do it.

Nick_R_23

I have Comp lifters in my older Chevy. One ticks loudly on cold start, last anywhere from a few seconds to close to a minute. I wish I would have gone with a different brand, but I've put nearly 30,000 miles on it so far in all temperatures with no issues other than it's a bit annoying at startup.

vettenuts

iTrader: (4)

Not to say that the Johnsons would respond the same, but on my Morels I went from 0.040" to 0.053" preload with the second build.

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

I'm preloaded 038 on short travel 2126, which have a total of 058 travel. No clatter at all. Just general LS1 sewing machine noise.

CarlostheBarbarian

Update for reference:

Re-measured. Didn't take overall length vs gauge length into account in the measurement. Had about .020 preload.

Ordered .030 longer Mantons(around .050 now) and the valvetrain is silent on cold start.

Appreciate all the advice

Darth_V8r

iTrader: (4)

Excellent work! Glad you've got it where you're happy!