Dilemma

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:18 pm

And when you remove the lifters, are any of them soft ? You might even be able to tell at the rocker testing when each is on the back of the lobe.

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:31 pm

I've not tried them for being soft, but they are almost new - 500 miles old.

Pete

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:35 pm

plastic orange wrote:I've not tried them for being soft, but they are almost new - 500 miles old.

Pete

If one is soft, that's your noise.

If they are all tight ( ie loaded up ), it's unlikely they are making any noise. But it does sound like a lifter.

Darkspeed · Post by **Darkspeed** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 8:45 pm

Did you have the valve guide heights reduced

Andrew

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 10:13 pm

No I didn't - not required with Hurricane cam according to Real Steel. It made the same noise with old cam and lifters too.

Pete

mk1storm · Post by **mk1storm** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:59 pm

My 3.9 also has a similar ticking, maybe not quite as bad, but it's quiet as anything on cold start, no ticking whatsoever, but then warmed up it ticks, mainly from the RHS bank.
Sounds like lifters as you guys have also said. My preloads were set to 20thou, oil pressure is 25psi at hot idle, more when rpm raised....

Was thinking that if it was a dodgy lifter or lack of oil supply then surely it would be the same or worse when cold?
If it's lack of oil pressure when hot then why would it be like that with 25psi+, surely that's enough?

Haven't spent much time looking into it yet 'cos getting the rest of the engine set-up first (only done 90miles with it) but beginning to wonder if I need to spend some time properly looking into this noise.

The only other thing I thought about was with my preloads set to 20thou, I wondered if when hot and with thermal expansion etc whether my preload was closing to 0 and then getting some valve clearance on the odd one or two lifters? Sound plausible or complete arse?!

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:39 pm

I think I'll just fit another engine as I'm fed up with this one. I do think it's an oiling problem as it was the same with the original cam and lifters. Of course, It could be coincidence and there are dodgy new lifters.
Mine too is quiet on tickover on initial start, and would be quiet ticking over all day. Noise seems to be rev induced, but it will quieten after a bit.
I even used an additive (for sticky lifters - clutching at straws) but no difference.

Pete

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Sun Aug 28, 2011 10:17 pm

I've just bought another engine - fingers crossed.

Pete

DEVONMAN · Post by **DEVONMAN** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 8:32 am

plastic orange wrote:I've just bought another engine - fingers crossed.

Pete

Will you be installing the same cam, lifters and heads on the replacement engine
As you say, fingers crossed.

Cheers
Denis

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 12:59 pm

I think my bottles crashed with using anything from my original engine. I'd rather eliminate everything and start again with the new engine. It's apparently had the heads refurbed and the seller checked the bottom end for wear and found it ok. I will be putting my SD1 front cover on it, and will replace timing gear if worn. If cam is worn I'll replace with standard 3.9 cam as I really didn't notice any improvement with the Hurricane cam.
I'll post pics of progress.

Pete

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 3:45 pm

New engine arrived today. Externally it looks pretty clean, and valley and head area not too bad -(not as clean as my noisy engine though).
The seller also supplied a set of clevite mains and big ends, so do I just go for it and do a complete rebuild using my old heads, hurricane cam etc, or is that a step too far?

Pete

stevieturbo · Post by **stevieturbo** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:26 pm

You could remove the Lexus engine and use it ? lol

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:28 pm

I did think of going for a Lexus engine, but I've already spent a fair bit of dosh on my LS1 minor, so I'm going for the easy option. Who knows in the future though - Lexus is a superb engine.

Pete

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 8:05 pm

A mate of mine is V8 ing his Capri with a Lexus + Chevy TH350...

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Mon Sep 12, 2011 3:30 pm

I've almost got the old engine out now, and checked the new one for oil pressure (with drill) to see what like. I primed it through the oil pressure gauge inlet, and after about 5 seconds of 'drilling' at low speed I got oil pressure.
About 100 revs of drill gives 20 psi. Took it up to about 800 and got 40 psi. Drill started to get hot, so made sure oil was getting around engine ok.
I'm going to try my old front cover (Sd1) on new engine and do the same test and if poor pressure, then front cover is the guilty party for my troubles.

I primed the new engine with a drill to check oil pressure - was fine

Pete