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440 rattle at cold startup

70runner

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440-6, 8yr old build, stealth heads, stock manifolds, Lunati 60303 cam/hyd lifter kit, 10.2CR. Brad Penn 15W-40 with Wix 51515. Starts and runs good, except for moderate rattle noise at cold startup. Rattle goes away after 5-7sec. Oil pressure approx 35 at idle, 60 at cruise.

Before I yank the intake to check the lifters, should I try different oil/oil filter? I did try a 1/2 quart of Marvel, no effect.
 
Are you convinced it’s lifters? Or is it bottom end?

Filter should be fine. Check with lifter manufacture for oil weight recommendation. I used some Johnson HyLifts recently and they say 10w30 max.
 
How long does it have to sit for this rattle to happen? Or is it every day at a cold start?
 
Unless Stealth heads are drastically different in shape than stock, no need to pull anything but rocker covers and rocker shaft assemblies. to get lifters out. That said a "rattle" doesn't sound like a lifter...
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Something in your exhaust system?
 
if temperature related, maybe the lifters have to pump up every time. My 440 did that until I switched to Rotella diesel 15-40 with zinc additive. now -10 below and it starts and idles like it was never shut off.
 
Unless Stealth heads are drastically different in shape than stock, no need to pull anything but rocker covers and rocker shaft assemblies. to get lifters out. That said a "rattle" doesn't sound like a lifter...
View attachment 1078907 View attachment 1078908
Just an fyi...Stealths (and most all aftermarket aluminum heads) have small holes for the pushrods instead of the one big opening like factory heads have....gotta pull the intake/valley pan.
 
Rattle or clicking ? ...How long taking oil pressure to come up ?
 
Simular noise led me to swap out my 383 for the current 440.
For 7 or 8 yrs that 383 had a rattle, light knocking in the lower.
I had changed fuel rod, run compression test, checked flex plate and tq converter.
Crank end play was still in spec.
Damn thing run fine, didn't use oil.
I allways figured it was a skirt or wrist pin.
Finally the noise got the best of me and I pulled the 383 and replaced it with my 440.
Tore that 383 down figured to find the cause , some witness marking ect.
Could not find a thing wrong, outside of scratches on the rods and mains but nothing loose or spun. No copper showing, ect.
I had even used a older beam torque wrench to loosen the rod and main
Caps, every thing was fine
Lmao sometimes you just dont know.
 
Appreciate responses, I'll try to answer q's...

Are you convinced it’s lifters? Or is it bottom end? Filter should be fine. Check with lifter manufacture for oil weight recommendation. I used some Johnson HyLifts recently and they say 10w30 max.

To be candid, don't really know for sure. Have a call in to Lunati, see what they have to say.

Forged pistons?

Yes, SRP 213455 10.5:1 forged flat tops.

How long does it have to sit for this rattle to happen? Or is it every day at a cold start?

Overnight, it will rattle next day. Have noticed it sitting at car show for 6hrs.

Heat riser?

No, welded open.

Flex Plate?

No. Have had that happen before...much different racket.

Something in your exhaust system?

Unlikely, noise is coming from engine.

Rattle or clicking ? ...How long taking oil pressure to come up ?

Definite rattle, pressure comes up immediately.

As noted, stealths don't have sufficient clearance in the pushrod cavity to fish out the lifters. I had to enlarge a couple cavities just to fit 3/8" pushrods. Cold startup video:
 
Listened to that 2 or 3 second rattle twice.
Sounds like it's in the valve train to me.
I know phone videos and sound are iffy.
When it's cold, get the covers off & put a start bump button on your relay and start checking rockers one or 2 that's very loose as in lifter plunger loose.
wag
 
Sounds like lifters. Do you have stamped steel rockers? Or adjustable?

Maybe a slight bend in a pushrod or wear on a lifter gives more lash the HYD lifter has to take up?

these noises can be deceiving.
 
Yeah, sounds like a lifter bleeding down. If it were a rocker or pushrod, it wouldn't go away. You could VERY CAREFULLY, READING AND FOLLOWING ALL DIRECTIONS try a motor flush in case one lifter's oil hole is blocked off, but I might be tempted to replace the lifters, or maybe just one if I could figure out which one was rattling.
 
Listened to that 2 or 3 second rattle twice. Sounds like it's in the valve train to me. I know phone videos and sound are iffy.
When it's cold, get the covers off & put a start bump button on your relay and start checking rockers one or 2 that's very loose as in lifter plunger loose.
wag

Pls elaborate on procedure. Does it matter where the lifter is on the cam profile?

Sounds like lifters. Do you have stamped steel rockers? Or adjustable? Maybe a slight bend in a pushrod or wear on a lifter gives more lash the HYD lifter has to take up?these noises can be deceiving.

Stock 1.5 stamped rockers.

Wondering if a change of oil viscosity might help?
 
Pls elaborate on procedure. Does it matter where the lifter is on the


Stock 1.5 stamped rockers.

Wondering if a change of oil viscosity might help?
Just get each valve closed and check the rocker and push rod on each.
Looking for slop, to loose ect.
 
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