Chirping LS3
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 53
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From: Va Beach
Wanted to update that after I posted yesterday, I found a video on youtube of another LS2 GTO that was making a nearly identical sound, and it ended up being a couple dead lifters, so I'm going to pull the heads off this week.
Staging Lane
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 77
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From: OKC, OK
Mine made the same exact noise as the last video posted. (Mines an LS2 GTO) I have a video too up on youtube. I busted my ankle up last weekend and could barely walk, or else the heads would be off by now. I have everything else off and ready to go. Should have the heads off and lifters out this weekend to confirm, but Im about 90% sure its a lifter. My only thing is, I know this motor has some miles on it (110k to be exact) and has burned a bit of oil, so if the bottom end isnt in great shape, the car may be down for awhile and start building it into a 402.
Heres the video of mine btw -
Heres the video of mine btw -
I work at gm and this is not that uncommon to see most of the time its on trucks and suvs with dod but should be covered under powertrain. I just replaced cam lifters and cam brgs on a 2008 truck with 80,000 was covered. I think the issue is camshafts are delaminating and take out lifters and cam brgs sometimes too.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 21
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It has been a while since I checked my subscriptions here.
To both of you who posted videos. Both of you have lifter problems. Mine doesn't make that noise, but I have certainly seen countless piles of videos with the same sound, and it's always lifters. You guys both have some heads to remove unfortunately...
To the rest. Mine is an LS3 (hence the thread title
). It's a totally different chirping than the standard lifter chirp. It is still doing it BTW with no ill effect that I have found. It's a much higher pitched squeak and it only does it as the RPMs peak and start to fall, only under say 1200 RPM too. If I blip the throttle past 1200 RPM, it doesn't chirp at all.
I checked out the arcing possiblity. Unfortunately it was another dead end. I have started collecting parts for a cam swap. I'm going to pull the heads when I do the swap and check/replace all of my lifters just to be safe. Like I think I've said before... I suspect it's the actual roller on a lifter that is making noise. That's why I felt the need to inspect what cam lobes I could see with the IM off.
To both of you who posted videos. Both of you have lifter problems. Mine doesn't make that noise, but I have certainly seen countless piles of videos with the same sound, and it's always lifters. You guys both have some heads to remove unfortunately...
To the rest. Mine is an LS3 (hence the thread title
). It's a totally different chirping than the standard lifter chirp. It is still doing it BTW with no ill effect that I have found. It's a much higher pitched squeak and it only does it as the RPMs peak and start to fall, only under say 1200 RPM too. If I blip the throttle past 1200 RPM, it doesn't chirp at all.I checked out the arcing possiblity. Unfortunately it was another dead end. I have started collecting parts for a cam swap. I'm going to pull the heads when I do the swap and check/replace all of my lifters just to be safe. Like I think I've said before... I suspect it's the actual roller on a lifter that is making noise. That's why I felt the need to inspect what cam lobes I could see with the IM off.
That's a crazy squeak E!
I say just stock pile on your parts lol and you'll see what the beef is. It will be crazy if after a new cam and lifters the "squeak" still is going on lol.
I say just stock pile on your parts lol and you'll see what the beef is. It will be crazy if after a new cam and lifters the "squeak" still is going on lol.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
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Hah! Yeah that would be crazy. I'd pretty much know for sure that it is something air related though... exhaust leak, valve event, maybe even just something wierd in the way my exhaust port flows out into the headers.. a burr or something.. who knows! My garage door squeaks too... maybe I'm just destined to have plenty of SQUEAK in my life.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
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Verdad Gallardo Staging Lane
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 77
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From: OKC, OK
From his other post it looks like its an auto. With an auto, test in ALL gears, if it does it in P, N, R, D then that typically rules out the trans. My noise also seemed to go away under load and with rpm over 2000 or so, but its likely it was just drowned out by other valvetrain/exhaust noise.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
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Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From his other post it looks like its an auto. With an auto, test in ALL gears, if it does it in P, N, R, D then that typically rules out the trans. My noise also seemed to go away under load and with rpm over 2000 or so, but its likely it was just drowned out by other valvetrain/exhaust noise.
Last edited by GreenMeany94; Jul 25, 2013 at 01:35 PM. Reason: add more
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
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Well since it's an auto.. it's not the throwout bearing! Eliminate that one off your list. It could still be lifters. I think it's pretty common for that noise to go away under RPM. I think it's pretty common for the noise to start once the motor is warm too.
Engine noises can be very difficult to diagnose over the internet. That is what I have learned from my chirp experience so far. About all you can do is roll up your sleeves and check everything you think might be wrong. That's essentially what I have resigned to doing.
Engine noises can be very difficult to diagnose over the internet. That is what I have learned from my chirp experience so far. About all you can do is roll up your sleeves and check everything you think might be wrong. That's essentially what I have resigned to doing.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 15
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Well since it's an auto.. it's not the throwout bearing! Eliminate that one off your list. It could still be lifters. I think it's pretty common for that noise to go away under RPM. I think it's pretty common for the noise to start once the motor is warm too.
Engine noises can be very difficult to diagnose over the internet. That is what I have learned from my chirp experience so far. About all you can do is roll up your sleeves and check everything you think might be wrong. That's essentially what I have resigned to doing.
Engine noises can be very difficult to diagnose over the internet. That is what I have learned from my chirp experience so far. About all you can do is roll up your sleeves and check everything you think might be wrong. That's essentially what I have resigned to doing.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
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I'd say you've gotten close enough to warrant pulling the head on that side and checking the lifters. Just remember... if you find 1 bad lifter... replace them all. It's a lot cheaper now than later... even if what you're in for now is more than you had bargained for in the first place.
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Joined: Jul 2013
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Im at the turn point found my problem guys. Remember i said the noise was louder the farther i went back on the vavle cover. Well number 7 exhaust roller tip rocker (bearing) was shot. Also number 5 intake was the same. But riddle me this why would i pull the head to get to my lifters when thay are clearly visible and removable from the valley of the block. I'm just curious... But i do appreciate all of the help from the folks here at this forum and i will recommend this place to all. Also i did check the lobes of the cam with my snake camera and the lobes seem to be ok as well the lifters too. I would like a recommendation however as to what type rockers to get. The one i have are PRW 1.6 steal with roller tips. It says "C36" on the under side of the rocker Thanks again you guys for the help
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: May 2013
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You may not have to pull your heads. I missed what motor you're running. I have an LS3. I have to pull my heads to get to the lifters. You should probably start a thread specific to your motor to get input on what rockers you should run. You'll get a lot better coverage than a thread with LS3 in the title .
. Staging Lane
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 77
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From: OKC, OK
I got the pass side head off today, unfortunately didnt have time to pull the driver side (only had a couple hours to work on it today). Already found one bad lifter/cam lobe, you cant tell too well in the pic, but in addition to the pitting it also has a pretty decent flat spot on it.