Good for Howards to stand behind their screwup

 

Curious, did it have the squeak noise? Like a spun bearing kind of noise? I just did a cam upgrade and put in new lifters. During the dyno the engine lost 50 hp and started to squeak. The mechanic said he thought it was a spun bearing but its not loosing oil pressure at all. He said he would think a bad lifter if I hadnt just replaced then. Thanks

 

No squeak. The motor great until it didn't. Drove the car about 3000 miles and started hearing a noisy tappet. At first I was not concerned because these motors have the sewing machine noise. But, it keep getting louder and louder. Eventually I found 16 scored lopes with 7 Exh, being the worst.

I known the noise you refer to. Squeaking (usually a main) or a dull thumping sound (usually a rod), but I had tappet noise only. I did not listen to the car, but it sounds like a bearing problem. Sometimes that will occur and still hold good pressure. Good luck.

 

I finally found time to replace the cam and lifters. As mentioned above Howards replaced the cam and lifters. Although my old springs were OK according to the machinist, I replaced them also just to be certain and since the heads were off. The motor started instantly, and so far I have 150 miles on the new top end. It runs great. But, it did so before with the old cam in the beginning until the tappet failed at about 3000 miles. Time will tell, but I have a feeling that this time is the charm.

For your information, I found no shavings in the filter or elsewhere in the motor except for one spot. I fished out a shaving about an 1/8 inch long from the left lifter gallery with a magnet. I blasted out every gallery with brake cleaner and used three cans. When I flushed out the pan, I carefully checked the drain pan for debris but found none. The shaving was found in the lifter oil gallery between number 1 and 3 cylinders. I bought a magnetic drain plug and will check it when I change the oil and filter at three hundred miles.

Thanks to all who took the time to offer suggestions.

 

Had something similar just happen to my LQ4. I was able to find the broken parts of the lifter in the pan, there was hardly any flakes in the bottom of the filter, I didn't see any in the element, the pan had the majority of the trash. The cam bearings were very clean, the oil galleys were spotless. I may have lucked out.

 

The lifter on the left looks just like my #7 EXH. But, I had all lopes damaged to a decree. I also found a piece of the roller in the pan. The rest of metal suspended in the oil and was taken out by the filter or when the oil was drained. I had no bearing damage too. :-) I changed the oil after 300 hundred miles and found a few shavings in the filter. It looked similar to yours.

On the second oil change, I stopped in a gas station and when I restarted the motor the pressure fell to 21. I carefully restarted the motor and the pressure retuned to normal. Assuming that the bypass opened, I drove home and changed the oil the next day. I opened the filter and found nothing unusual. On the third oil change, I noticed the pressure needle pulsing at idle. It pulsed for about 100 miles and I decided to change the oil again.

On the fourth change, I switched to my usual oil, Delo 400 15-40. Its holding good pressure but has only about 100 miles on the change. In total I drove about 1500 miles on four changes. The motor is clean and I hope this will be the last change until I hit 3000 miles. The motor runs great, with only the usual sewing machine sound.

 

Sounds like good news !!!! Right now I'm putting mine back together, I'll probably have it back in the car tomorrow. Plans are to hit the strip with it Sunday.

 

Not sure what pushrods you are running, but pushrod flex will contribute to that as well. Might want to consider stepping up to a larger OD if you haven't already.

 

Have a good time at the track. Let us know how it runs.

 

Yeah, I was considering that. I have 5/16th .80 moly sticks in the motor right now.

 

Well, got her put back together. Hit the track Sunday and made some eighth mile passes was 7.02 @ 95 Now freshened up it's running 6.93 @ 97 and it was 95 degrees out wit 72% humidity, can't wait for the cooler weather.

 

That's good news. So, I assume the valve train is OK??

 

Yep, I bought a new Texas Speed Cam, LS7 lifters, Upgraded Trunion Rockers, cleaned the heads, put a new oil pump in, checked a few bearings, and changed the oil restrictor. Back in business. Good luck with your ride !!