Valve train noise

[72 510]

I have a newly installed red top in a 89 chassis. the motor has 27K and runs real strong.

My issue is the motor is smooth and quiet until 2600-3200rpm it starts making a tik-tik- sounds that is coming from the back 1/3 of the motor. if I slowly rev the motor it tiks from 26-31 and then quiets until 4k+. if I cruise at 2800 and have a nuetral throttle positon it tiks, if I decel or accel it goes away. if I hammer it then it comes back around 4+. it nevers tiks on decel.

any ideas? I removed the top timing chain guide but it sounds like valvetrain. I also changed the oil again.

It seems to be more throttle position dependant which leads me away from the HLA and more towards a EFI problem on one injector or ingintor?

[SpeedRacer1]

And its not an exhaust rattle?

[72 510]

Not that I can tell.

I stick a screwdriver up to my ear and place it against the valve cover and its definetly coming from inside.

I wish it was exhaust. it sounds like timing chain slapping against metal but its in the back?

[Jesse SR20]

You could always dig into the head and bleed the HLA's. They tick when they have air in them. And while you're in there you can look for abnormal wear or anything out of place.

[72 510]

I would rather not tear the cams out right now if its not the problem.

I can't see it being the HLA's unless it was a consistent tick from idle up. just a slight change in throttle position shouldn't make the sound go away if it was the HLA's.

The sound is like a grrrack

[DrifterProdigy85]

pull the valve cover off and just check that everything looks alright. Removing cams is easy as hell anyways.

[Nismo_Freak]

You don't even have to remove the cams to remove the HLA's.

Just spin the motor over by hand until the cam lobe isn't contacting the rocker arm, pop off the rocker arm, and now you can remove the HLA.

[72 510]

Does it sound like a problem with the HLA's?

I'll pop the cover off tommorow. I just didn't want to spend time going down the wrong path.

[Nismo_Freak]

Honestly I have no idea, you can't really get a picture of what a sound is from it makes this "tik tik tik" noise haha.

I would say it's not a HLA problem, and that it would be more likely an injector since it doesn't do it on deaccel.

[72 510]

Turns out the bearing caps on the intake cam were all loose by alomost a full turn.

I cleaned and primed the HLA's, tightened everything down and the noise is better but still there.

The HLA's were in excellent shape.

I checked lash while cold and couldn't fit a 0.0015 feeler in any. all had a slight gap as I could move the rockers.

I'm now at a loss?

[Nismo_Freak]

Turns out the bearing caps on the intake cam were all loose by alomost a full turn.

I cleaned and primed the HLA's, tightened everything down and the noise is better but still there.

The HLA's were in excellent shape.

I checked lash while cold and couldn't fit a 0.0015 feeler in any. all had a slight gap as I could move the rockers.

I'm now at a loss?

I wouldn't assume that was your only problem. You still will want to investigate the fuel injectors, I had one on my SR20DE get loud on me.

[spider_slayer]

i think all of the caps have a specific torque spec......when you tightened them did you use a torque wrench?