lifter noise under load

Discussion in 'Street/strip 400/430/455' started by Al Pixton, Nov 3, 2018.

  1. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    Hello Buick fans, as the title says, the 455 in my G.S. has loud lifter noise, noticeable more so when driving around town with the windows rolled up. Last year I did a re-fresh on engine, and added t/a heads from Mike Weiss, new rocker assemblies, and 288-94h cam from t/a perf. Engine has speed pro forged pistons at 0 deck, performer intake, q-jet, and headers. Engine seems to run well, idle is good, and engine seems to make good power, however noise drives me nuts. I have had the valve covers off three times with engine idling and every thing seems to be working fine, no up and down movement on pushrods on valves that were closed. Lifter pre-load is set correctly. Engine has less than 1500 miles since re-fresh.
    Any one else have a issue like this? Could I have contaminated lifters on start up if block was not perfectly clean? I am ready to pull intake and replace lifters. Also brake in oil when drained was rather dark, and drain plug magnet had some iron residue.
    Thanks for any and all responses.

    Al
     
  2. Smartin

    Smartin antiqueautomotiveservice.com Staff Member

    Are you it isn’t spark knock/pinging? Where is your timing set?
     
    DasRottweiler likes this.
  3. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    X2, I bet it is pinging. Easily mistaken for valve noise if you aren't familiar with the sound.
     
  4. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    No it is not pinging, I am familiar with the sound. Timing is set at 20* at idle, 34* total mechanical with about 10* from vacuum can on ported vacuum source.
     
  5. BUICKRAT

    BUICKRAT Got any treats?

    Exhaust noise? Leak at the headers? Windows up=louder noise points that way.... Can many times sound like a lifter. Loose plug can also cause this
     
    GS464, 70skylark350 and Julian like this.
  6. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    The title of your thread is lifter noise under load. That made me think of ping. If you are sure it isn't pinging, then it may be valve noise, but there is no reason it would appear under load only. Aluminum heads grow more when hot, so they frequently need more lifter preload then iron. Is the noise at idle as well? Could also be the lifter itself. I have a roller cam, and I recently switched from the Morel lifters to the Johnson roller lifters. It made a big difference. What kind of lifters are you using?
     
  7. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the reply Larry, what I mean by under load is cruising at a steady speed, say 2500 r.p.m. When I accelerate modestly not so noticeable. Idle is more a rocker arm sound not the same noise. Lifters came with cam from t/a.
     
  8. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    Can you adjust your lifter preload? Try more.
     
  9. Schurkey

    Schurkey Silver Level contributor

    First Guess: ticking noise under load = header gasket leak = "header tick".
     
    philbquick, Julian and Smartin like this.
  10. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    Fixed length pushrods, and no header leak ( rem-flex gaskets )
     
  11. Bluzilla

    Bluzilla a.k.a. "THE DOCTOR"

    Sounds like classic front cam bearing issue to me, .... though the lifter noise would be more prominent on the left side.

    Larry
     
  12. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    Engine has t/a dual groove cam bearings, plus a small channel cut in top of first cam journal connecting both oil galleys ( done many years ago )
     
  13. rmstg2

    rmstg2 Gold Level Contributor

    Is it more noticeable after the engine is warmed up? Mine is totally quiet until about 180 degrees then the lash adjustment seems a little loose. Like Larry says the aluminum heads grow a little when hot.

    Bob H.
     
  14. telriv

    telriv Founders Club Member

    Try disconnecting vacuum advance hose & plug the end & take it for a ride & report back.
     
    gsgtx likes this.
  15. Stevem

    Stevem Well-Known Member

    Pull some plugs and Post up a few pictures of them before your able to see the inside of your block from the outside!
    Aluminum heads will grow in height some .006" to .008" from what I have seen when up to temp.
     
  16. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    exhaust manifold leak is the first thing that popped into my brain. I have been known to be wrong from time to time though..... keep us posted.
     
  17. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    So I drove car today with vacuum advance disconnected, noise still there. After driving it some more maybe it is only one or two lifters hammering away. Possibly stuck lifter or cam lobe issue? Will take some more investigating with valve covers off and engine idling and hose to my ear to try and isolate noise. However garage door opener just quit, so that's a priority right now.
     
  18. johnriv67

    johnriv67 Well-Known Member

    The way you use the word "hammering" is consistent with detonation. Here's a backyard procedure I'd throw together to test this.

    I know your advance at idle is 20*. Set it at 10* for starters and retest for the noise. If the noise is still there then retard it to the point that the engine is barely idling. Now go out and test it to see if it is making the same noise. If it is, then your problem is not detonation.
     
  19. Robs455

    Robs455 Well-Known Member

    Something we missed. If a lifter is jammed / stuck or the preload is too less, then you always have the tick noise.
    Whats your oil pressure? If you don't have enough pressure, the hydraulic tappets won't inflate properly. At more throttle the crank is pushed out stronger from the bearing which will increase the clearance and result in an additional oil pressure drop.
     
  20. Al Pixton

    Al Pixton Well-Known Member

    Hi Rob, oil pressure at idle in park after driving on freeway is 22 psi. On freeway at 3000 rpm it is 55 psi.
     

Share This Page