Squeeky valve gear?

teamidris · Post by **teamidris** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 8:14 pm

I've had a search about and found these threads; http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... ht=tappits , http://www.v8forum.co.uk/forum/viewtopi ... ht=lifters . Which both have video's, but no outcomes/fixes.
But the noises are just like I have had. I've got a squeek, like a dry rocker arm, but it's deeper in the engine. I've also had that tappit knock, which came and went as though it was a bit of dirt in there that cleared. And only at 13oorpm.
The squeek stays, and starts after 20-30 seconds of running and gets quite nasty. Running without the rocker boxes we are sure its not the rocker set by listening with a tube. It's still there with the fan belt removed.
So the question is, can a new hydraulic tappit squeek? Or should I be looking elsewhere?

It hasn't been out of the workshop yet, has a piper torque max cam on a 1986 3.5 RV8, heads skimmed for gasket damage, Composite head gaskets, ARP studs and duplex timing chain. It has a distributor but not an oil pump an no cam float plate. And normal lifters.

Thanks in advance, Pullin my hair out, Steve

ChrisJC · Post by **ChrisJC** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:01 pm

Little end? I had an engine once that squeaked, and was hard for the starter to turn over. But it seemed to run OK once bump started. Turned out to be a seized little end.

Chris.

JSF55 · Post by **JSF55** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 9:26 pm

Ah right that was one of mine, turned out it was too small a breather hole in the rocker cover feeding into the breather system

i opened it out and put a standard upright pcv in the other flame trap and it was all fine

plastic orange · Post by **plastic orange** » Sun Jan 01, 2012 11:37 pm

I discovered that my noise was due to a poorly fitted gasket on the oil pickup pipe. When car was revved there was insufficient oil being sucked up, hence the rattle.It was ok at sub 3k revs, but when it happened it took a while to go away again. Funny thing is that the oil pressure never wavered, so more of a volume issue - pump was cavitating I think..
Cured now with a reground crank and gasket fitted correctly.

Pete

teamidris · Post by **teamidris** » Mon Jan 02, 2012 10:51 am

Little end

That is a depressing thought indeed. But it turns over by hand and the frequency sounds valve gear. I have pulled the plugs ready for a compression test though.
Can't be breather as it has no rocker box

And plenty of oil from the dry sump kit. The rubber exit pipe from the second relief valve doesn't show signs of air. I was using it to drown the rocker gear in oil yesterday, incase a push rod was touching the head.
All the tappits are now out and everything looks fine.

Thanks for help, I'll keep on looking

jefferybond · Post by **jefferybond** » Tue Jan 03, 2012 7:20 am

Does the noise disappear if you raise the revs to about 3000rpm? It might be the cam lobes squeaking against the lifters if its a new cam. Run at 2500-3000rpm for 20mins to bed the cam in and the noise should fade and disappear.

Jeff

teamidris · Post by **teamidris** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:20 pm

Well, I could be a dipstick for not checking the dipstick

But honestly, if the removal of the dipstick fixes it, I don't care how embarrassing it is

Next job is sump off to hunt down metal bits. I'm hoping it was the balencer that had a 'nibble' and not a rod. Luckily the dipstick is soft......wish me luck!

teamidris · Post by **teamidris** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 7:25 pm

I never really finished this thread !
The distick hadn't caused any damage, phew

It seems to have shut up, so I assume it was the cam bedding in. After running for a bit I changed the oil and had a look at he magnet in the bottom of the dry sump tank. It was pretty clean with a grey resudue on the bottom of the tank, which I guess is the pistons sorting themselves out.

I had a look in the sump the other week as it was leaking again. Basically too much welding abuse ! This time I siliconed it on with no gasket, which works better for the wierd set up I have anyway. Nothing to report in the sump so maybe its happy? Certainly goes like a rocket and the dry sump means it still raises oil pressure when nearly on its side. Which is good, as I slapped it into reverse and put it back on its wheels, much to the spectators delight