LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Engine noise...please help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 9, 2010 | 09:28 PM
  #1  
BGImportkiller's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Default Engine noise...please help

My car is all stock internals and has about 96,000 miles on it. Maybe a month or 2 ago i started to hear what I was pretty sure is a valve train noise. Basically on deceleration, there is a loud ticking from under the driver's side valve cover that sounds like a component of the engine cannot slow down as fast it should be. The car is not a DD, but i drove it the other day and now it does the same thing on when at constant throttle/revs and it has more of a squeaking as is makes the ticking noise as well.

I pulled the valve cover and nothing looks wrong. The rocker on the 4th valve from the front (so on cylinder 3) has no play at all in it, while the other 7 do have a small amount of play.

I know its hard to say without hearing/seeing it but I was thinking it might be a lifter and would like any input about what is might be. Thanks in advance for your help.
Reply
Old Aug 9, 2010 | 09:36 PM
  #2  
ebeard's Avatar
Launching!
 
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Lebanon TN
Default

I would adjust the valve lash on all the valves (both sides), and go from there. Here is a good write up on doing just that. http://shbox.com/1/4th_gen_tech2.html#adjust_valves
If your not comfortable with doing it yourself, find a performance shop or shop that deals with engines on a regular basis. I wouldn't expect them to charge more than $100
Reply
Old Aug 10, 2010 | 07:59 AM
  #3  
Jcl_96TA's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 225
Likes: 1
From: Akron PA
Default

I had those same rims on my formula.. I would check for exhaust leaks firs of all, which sometimes can sound like engine noise.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2010 | 10:33 AM
  #4  
BGImportkiller's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Default

Thanks for the help so far guys, its definitely not an exhaust noise. If the hood is popped you can clearly hear the knock coming from under the driver's side valve cover and not from the header. Any more ideas?
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2010 | 10:44 AM
  #5  
aaronlt1's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: baltimore
Default

I had the same issue my ticking noise was very loud i thought it was my lifters come to fing out my headers i installed from pacesetter came loose the bolts some how managed to come loose ant the gap between header and heads alowed exhuast to excape from the sides burning my gasket the noise went away when i tightened the bolts so i took of the headers and replaced the gasket and the loud noise dissapeared.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2010 | 10:47 AM
  #6  
aaronlt1's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: baltimore
Default

Originally Posted by BGImportkiller
Thanks for the help so far guys, its definitely not an exhaust noise. If the hood is popped you can clearly hear the knock coming from under the driver's side valve cover and not from the header. Any more ideas?
When i poped my hood i can clearly hear from the driver side also thats where mine all started. An exhuast leak through the header or manifold to the heads will make your car sould like a loud lifter going bad or a rod going literally sounds like that.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2010 | 12:02 PM
  #7  
00FlowCamaro's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, WI
Default

Originally Posted by aaronlt1
When i poped my hood i can clearly hear from the driver side also thats where mine all started. An exhuast leak through the header or manifold to the heads will make your car sould like a loud lifter going bad or a rod going literally sounds like that.
Yeah, check to make sure your header gaskets are good. I thought I had something going wrong in the valve train, but it just turned out to be a blown header gasket.
Reply
Old Aug 12, 2010 | 03:35 PM
  #8  
946spdz's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (19)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 127
Likes: 0
Default

I thought i had a bad lifter a couple months ago and it turned out to be a header gasket blown.. good luck i hope thats all it is for u too!
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Aug 16, 2010 | 04:51 PM
  #9  
BGImportkiller's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Default

Thanks for the responses guys. I have had a bad gasket on that side before and it sounded nothing like this did, but you were right. I checked the header bolts just to be sure and 3 of them were loose. Tightened them down and noise is gone! Thanks again guys
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:24 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE