Valvetrain clatter/noise

[moparedtn]

Let's try this:

Here is the same video @1STMP linked to in his post above;
I downloaded his and uploaded it into my YouTube account....

 

[moparedtn]

I suspect something to do with lifter(s) not pumping all the way up at idle - and/or God forbid, a lobe or two on the cam is flattening out.
What oil you running in it?

 

[1STMP]

I suspect something to do with lifter(s) not pumping all the way up at idle - and/or God forbid, a lobe or two on the cam is flattening out.
What oil you running in it?

It's been recently broke in. Straight 30 wt.
break-in oil with zddp. Per the engine builder's
recommendation.
Guess I'll pop off some valve covers and do
some snooping.
Will post what I find.

 

[moparedtn]

It's been recently broke in. Straight 30 wt.
break-in oil with zddp. Per the engine builder's
recommendation.
Guess I'll pop off some valve covers and do
some snooping.
Will post what I find.

Good to read about the zinc. Yep, see what's up with the valve cover(s) (start with the one you're
hearing the most noise out of) off.

 

[BLK 68 R/T]

I would verify oil flow to the top end. Should be pretty easy to tell, followed by rocker shaft orientation.

 

[1STMP]

I would verify oil flow to the top end. Should be pretty easy to tell, followed by rocker shaft orientation.

Thanks for your input.
I'll be pulling the valve covers tomorrow.

 

[Geoff 2]

Cannot believe we are at 26 posts & nobody has suggested this simple test. Run engine for 3-5 minutes [ no more, not too hot ]. Remove a valve cover. Check for loose rockers. Loose rockers could indicate faulty lifters, cam brg in wrong, wiped lobes, wrong length valves [ too short ], etc.

 

[Bee1971]

LOL

Maybe you didn't READ the 26 Posts before you typed

I don't know if i can hear an exhaust leak in that video ? Hard to tell

 

[1967coronet]

Since this is my first attempt at building
Ma Mopars biggest, I'm very unfamiliar
with the way this big hunk of Iron is
supposed to sound. I've run a compression
test (dry/cold-5 revolutions) and all 8
register 150 psi on the dot. 40 psi oil
pressure cold at start, drops to 35 psi
warmed up. I'm getting (what I perceive
to be excessive valve train clatter). The
pressures exiting the pipes are smooth
and even with no pops or misses.
I would assume since there are no
engine stumbles, and compression is even
that the pushrods/lifters a functioning
normally. I do have a taller set of aluminum
valve covers installed to head off future
mods. Could it be they are just amplifying
the valve train noise?

I listened to the video a couple times.
If..... your oiling fine on top, it sounds like lifters do not have much for preload,
Or roll it over by hand and check springs for coil bind.
Sounds like its running nice.

 

[Orig69]

It kinda sounds like it's only one or two lifters, hard to tell it's so loud.

 

[1STMP]

I listened to the video a couple times.
If..... your oiling fine on top, it sounds like lifters do not have much for preload,
Or roll it over by hand and check springs for coil bind.
Sounds like its running nice.

Kinda what I was thinking, as the compression
is even across the board. I would think a
bad cam shaft would show signs of rough
running. It idles smooth with no pops or
missing.
We're pulling the covers off today
to check for bent pushrods and bad lifters.

 

[PurpleBeeper]

Won't a bent pushrod/bad lifter have an effect
on compression?
All 8 at 5 revs showed 150 psi. Not so
much as a pounds' difference. Vacuum gauge
needle steady @15/650 rpm in gear.

Nope, compression would be fine. The valves won't open up completely, so you'll be low on power, and you will have a knock-knock-knock coming from under the valve cover

 

[1STMP]

Nope, compression would be fine. The valves won't open up completely, so you'll be low on power, and you will have a knock-knock-knock coming from under the valve cover

Thanks for the info....

 

[Barry Woodyard]

I have a complete rebuilt 426 Max Wedge.
Comp Cam with Hydraulic roller lifters. had it assembled by the machine shop that did all of the machine work. When I first started it had a lot of lifter noise. I pulled the Rocker covers and re adjusted them. The Machine shop told me they go 1/4 to 1/2 turn past 000 lash. still a lot of noise. I have the stock Adjustable rockers on the engine. Still a lot of noise. I called Comp Cams and they told me you need .050 to .080 preload. With a 3/8-24 thread on the pushrod end of the rocker that is up to 2 turns (1.000/24) = almost 2 turns. Adjusted them again and it is stilll noisey but better. The rule of thumb of 1/4 to 1/2 turn is for Chevy which is adjusted in the center of the rocker arm not out at the end like the Mopar which make a lot of difference.

 

[Should be playing golf]

Sure hope you have checked your header/manifold bolts for proper torque. Just my 2 cents...simple things first eh?

 

[1STMP]

An update:
Pulled the valve covers off and found 16
of the pushrods slightly bent. Haven't
checked the lifters yet as I'm hesitant
about pulling the intake. Going to try and
pull them with a magnet. Four or five rockers
we're loose enough that the pushrods
may have come out of the lifter. Sighting
down the holes in the heads looking at the
lifters, they all seem to be at the same level
in the cups. (none collapsed) Wasn't able
to push any of them down.
Will report on the cam condition when I get
the lifters pulled.
There is oil at the top end.
Thanks all !
An edit: Measured with a tape measure @
9.25 so I am thinking they're a stock 9.315
pushrod.

 

[Orig69]

Do you have a picture of the pushrods.

 

[1STMP]

Do you have a picture of the pushrods.

No. They weren't bent that bad to where you
can see the deformations in a pic. There
is two different types of pushrods. 8 are
solid non-ball ends, 8 have ball ends. I don't
have any way of accurately checking their
length. The valve stem ends are flat and even.

 

[Bee1971]

Post #37 - We need to see those pushrods , two different styles ? Especially with running stamped steel factory type rocker arms and hydraulic lifters like you said in post #8

 

[1STMP]

Post #37 - We need to see those pushrods , two different styles ? Especially with running stamped steel factory type rocker arms and hydraulic lifters like you said in post #8

I would assume this is ok as long as they're
the same length?