The Infamous LS Tick! Help!
Definetly glad it’s catching interest. For such a common thing there’s so many variables. I’ll definitely be updating as much as possible because far too many times forums don’t get updated after the problem is fixed or they find something out that could be informative to other people. I also started this thread because I could not find another person that was experiencing what mines doing exactly like mine or a video that was making the same sound either.
Dexos 2 oils are supposed to resist aeration better than other oils. I think Dexos 2 also sheds the air bubbles better than typical oil.
I don't know if that would help with the tick. If the current oil isn't Dexos 2 rated that might be worth trying.
Dexos 2 oils are supposed to resist aeration better than other oils. I think Dexos 2 also sheds the air bubbles better than typical oil.
I don't know if that would help with the tick. If the current oil isn't Dexos 2 rated that might be worth trying.
Its using Mobil 1 10w40 which is DEXOS with Lucas full synthetic oil stabilizer.
The guy that built the engine set the clearances and the pump pressure for 20W50..
I also had a chevy with a old school small block 350 make valve rocker noises and it turned out to be the
cam thrust washer was the wrong one,, too many Years ago now but a new OE GM one (All I could get at the time) fixed the problem.
It also caused a mild oil leak at the rear of the motor at the cam bore plug. Only leaked under power..
The guy that built the engine set the clearances and the pump pressure for 20W50..
I also had a chevy with a old school small block 350 make valve rocker noises and it turned out to be the
cam thrust washer was the wrong one,, too many Years ago now but a new OE GM one (All I could get at the time) fixed the problem.
It also caused a mild oil leak at the rear of the motor at the cam bore plug. Only leaked under power..
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Aren't the rest of you guys scared of running unstable oil? The big oil companies haven't discovered the secret sauce for stable oil. Luckily a select few enlightened additive companies like Lucas share their complex chemistry and vast technological breakthroughs with us consumers.

Not a Lucas fan after seeing several folks use their transmission snake oil. I've have the impression additives typically increases the amount of air in the oil and are usually bad news.
Last edited by 99 Black Bird T/A; Apr 3, 2019 at 05:40 AM.
This is what was found in the pickup tube screen
You can see the size difference, new one is the red one.
Everything was squared away and looked great.
Okay so an update. Got everything done and she still ticks. I’ll explain everything That was done and provide pics that were taken along the way.
So I get the oil pan off and flexplate was dry so I know the rear main is solid still. I take the pickup tube off and i take the o ring off and place it next to the new one, and I can visibly see it’s a skinnier sidewall than the new one. My pickup tube happened to have an Indent and I know some do some don’t, and with the indent you need the thicker o ring, which I used. I lube it with fresh oil before sliding it on, and it “popped” and slid in before I even put the bolt in. I really genuinely thought this would be the problem. No bearing material or concerning metal was in the pan, but I pulled some stuff out of the oil pickup tube screen. It still ticks. I’m baffled at this point. Literally only other thing it could be is the rockers. That’s the only stock part left in that motor. LOL
Did you check all the wrist pins and bearings while you had the pan off?
Did you check all the wrist pins and bearings while you had the pan off?
Thanks for the great tip about the muffler. Gonna end up just delete the Y pipe and running a true dual. I have one Magnaflow straight through part #12909 and I bought another one so it should sound pretty mean with the cam.
As for the bearings and rods and wrist pins they were absolutely spot on. Nothing moved abnormally and there wasn’t any bearing material or anything of concern in the pan.










