Help me avoid the sewing machine sound
Sorry bud, it's the truth.....not making it up. Some are louder than others, just depends on lobe profile and duration. I've got an XE hyd roller cam in my 383 sbc that makes more noise than some solid flat tappet cams I've heard.
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From: Lexington, KY
What your saying is logical, but my lobe profiles are considered to be among the more agressive and mine is quiet. I believe valvetrain geometry is a big factor. But I find it odd that my 04 silverado ticks like crazy and it's completely stock.
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: NW Houston,TX
I'm planning a cam swap, but I don't want my car to sound like a sewing machine. I've done alot of searching but there doesn't seem to be any consensus on what causes it. Some have said it's the stock rockers, others say it's improper lifter preload, and still others say it's aggressive ramp rates like the Xe-r lobes and yadda, yadda, yadda. So which one is it? Is it a combination of factors? I'm looking to install the Trickflow Stage III cam which is ground by Lunati and eventually get the TFS heads which means i'll be getting new rockers. Will this head/cam package make less noise since i've elimanated two of the possible factors. Thanks for any help.
My cam was ground by Lunati back in the day when MTI used Lunati lobes and it is very quite.
I also use stock rockers & 918 springs.
I don't think the Lunati ramps are as aggresive as the Xer Lobes.
Let's see...alot of people get the sewing machine sound...and alot of people don't. Trying to find out what people are doing right to avoid the sound is hardly crying. I think that's called good planning as opposed to just throwing sh*t into an engine and wondering why it sounds f*cked up.
If you are sure that the TFS Cam is a Lunati grind it should be fairly quite.
My cam was ground by Lunati back in the day when MTI used Lunati lobes and it is very quite.
I also use stock rockers & 918 springs.
I don't think the Lunati ramps are as aggresive as the Xer Lobes.
My cam was ground by Lunati back in the day when MTI used Lunati lobes and it is very quite.
I also use stock rockers & 918 springs.
I don't think the Lunati ramps are as aggresive as the Xer Lobes.
Let's see...alot of people get the sewing machine sound...and alot of people don't. Trying to find out what people are doing right to avoid the sound is hardly crying. I think that's called good planning as opposed to just throwing sh*t into an engine and wondering why it sounds f*cked up.
this is something i have been trying to solve for a while. there is always something that seems to cover it up a little more, or make slight improvements, but all in all the aggressive ramp of 99% of aftermarket cams cause a large increase in valve train noise.
I was always told that longer pushrods helped, I run 7.425" rods with Harland sharp 1.7s an mines not too bad-or maybe its just cuz i can't hear it much over the true-duals lol.
99.99% of valvetrain noise is due to profile.
Does that mean 100% of noise is profile??? NO.
Sooooo, Yes longer/shorter pushrods can add or takeaway noise. But that has NOTHING to do with the overall valvetrain noise. Thats because some idiot wanted to go cheap and guess at what he needed.
Lets face it, you can get noise from everything you do in the valvetrain..To much preload, not enough preload, long PR's, short PR's, incorrect spring setup, valves, cam, lifters, etc etc etc..I mean ****. Every fukin thing in the valvetrain can give noise.
But "When" your car is set up right, it almost ALWAYS comes down to valvetrain profile.
So its simple..Build your valvetrain to be stable and quiet.. DONT just go add longer pushrods cause some guy who doesnt have a clue told you so..
Does that mean 100% of noise is profile??? NO.
Sooooo, Yes longer/shorter pushrods can add or takeaway noise. But that has NOTHING to do with the overall valvetrain noise. Thats because some idiot wanted to go cheap and guess at what he needed.
Lets face it, you can get noise from everything you do in the valvetrain..To much preload, not enough preload, long PR's, short PR's, incorrect spring setup, valves, cam, lifters, etc etc etc..I mean ****. Every fukin thing in the valvetrain can give noise.
But "When" your car is set up right, it almost ALWAYS comes down to valvetrain profile.
So its simple..Build your valvetrain to be stable and quiet.. DONT just go add longer pushrods cause some guy who doesnt have a clue told you so..
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