Hello. I was reading one of the threads where you were helping a gentleman out and I was VERY impressed. I had some questions but instead of hijacking the gentleman's thread.. I figured I would make my own and hope you would help me out.

Here is what I have:

2001 Camaro SS
M6 Viper trans
Textralia Clutch
TEA Stage 3 Heads
Manley double springs
Tit retainers/seats/seals/shims/Hardened pushrods
MS4 cam
Fast 90/90
Meziere Electric Water Pump
Comp OEM Lifters
Lucas 42 Pound Injectors
TSP Cold Air Induction
4.10 gears in a 10 Bolt


I JUST had the cam and heads installed and there is WAAAAY too much valvetrain noise while driving. It sounds like the rocker arms are gonna fall off. Sounds HIDEOUS! I dont mind LOPE. I LOVE lope, but valvetrain noise like this is not only embarrassing it is down right disgusting.

I had an engine builder listen to it and he stated it is normal for a HUGE cam car. The specs on the cam is:

239/242 .651/.610 111 LSA

Now I LOVE the power it makes.. i JUST LOVE IT and I LOVE THE LOPE but I cant take the valvetrain noise.

We even tried straight 50 oil to shut her up. No good.

What cam could I go with that would produce nice power and torque without having to spin to 7000 rpm's and have a nice lope to it?

I would LOVE LOPE, POWER, TORQUE for my 6 speed without having to take her to 7000 everyday.

I am sure everyone else wants the same thing. I am sure it is not possible to get everything.. but could you come up with a cam close enough for me.

I was hoping for 480rwhp on the old setup but 460+ would be suffice.

But please.. lets shut up the valvetrain noise while driving.. Again it isnt so much sound.. but it sounds like things are breaking in there and that SUCKS!

Thank you for your generous help.

 

Have your heads been milled? What thickness head gasket are you running? What is the installed height of your springs? And most importantly, what length pushrods are you running?

Improper length pushrods is the number one cause for excessive valvetrain noise. Any good cam I would spec for you would have XE-R lobes, LSK lobes, or BOTH. Your's has both. You need to find out the answers to the above questions and then we can see where we are.

 

I'm not patrick or preditor. But I feel I can help. I have a very similar motor setup as you (so close I thought you might posting for me). And valvetrain noise was very loud in my car also but after several heat cycles and around 1k miles it normal now. Just hope your motor is new like mine.

 

Thanks for getting back so quickly guys.

Ok the springs are from TSP and they are good for .700 lift.

The heads have been milled and the pistons have been flycut.

The head gasket thickness I dont know about cause the mechanic did the install.

The pushrod length I am unsure of as well. I will ask him that.

Which size would you use? 7.4? 7.35?

 

what is the preload on the lifters? Have your meachanic determine that and if too light, you might need longer p-rods than what you have.
sometimes you even have to run 2 different length on a cam that has 2 kinds of lobes and a big split in lifts (like LSK/XE-R)

 

thank you.

I am gonna send him this thread and see if it is not maybe something overlooked.

thank you soo much guys!

 

Steve,I think you said you were also running the stock rockers,some rollers might help?

 

Nah, stock rockers are fine in this application. They're not the source of the noise. Sounds like a 99% chance of pushrods being too short.

 

I would put money on the pushrods.

 

i have heard of stories of 4.125 working really well for quieting noise down

 

I'm sure you meant 7.425

4.125 is a stroke.

 

whoops... im on crack

 

Stock rocker's should be fine. Valvetrain noise can be annoying at best, but can be taken care of easily if it is a pushrod problem.
See if you can find out what gasket is on and we can figure out the thickness of the gasket that way.
Also we need to know how much the heads was milled, as that will change the SCR/DCR and determine a better guess as to what pushrod size is the correct size.
Then a few of us can have a better suggestion for your paticular goals.
I would almost bet your going to need a shorter P-Rod then stock, or maybe even the stock size rod, but more then likely not a longer one.
And lastly what spring does PRC sell that is good to 700 lift? Are you sure it isn't just their PRC dual golds, good to 660 lift.

I know there is a bunch of questions, but it will help us help you.
JZ

 

you guys are the best.

I am having the mechanic check out the pushrods today and if it is what you say it is..

I AM BUYING BEERS FOR YOU GUYS at the next LS1TECH SHOOTOUT!

 

You can FedEx me mine

 

Listen.. if the pushrods are the key.. I dont need to fedex you.. I am driving that big cammed car to your house with a case in the back and we are gonna drink to the sun comes up..

 

Wow, your will defentially break her in if you drive to Predator's house.
Crossing the ocean should be a neat trick.

 

oh yeah I just seen the location.

FEDEX ON THE WAY lol

 

Some people have had their lifters turn 90 degrees in their bore and make lots of noise because the lifter trays weren't holding them straight. Other people have had weird problems like the rockers hitting the spring retainers and making lots of noise. Hopefully it's a pushrod problem, not a lifter or rocker problem.

 

towed it out of the shop and brought it to another shop. Currently letting them diagnose the problem.

thanks though!