VH woes... need some ideas

[mtcookson]

Long story on how it all happened but basically I've got a nasty ticking noise. I heard it coming from the right head and not the left so figured some air got in the hla's. Took it all apart, bled the ones that seemed bad, put it all back together and... the ticking noise was still there. So, I took it all back apart again and decided to bleed every single one in the right head. Winter was coming so I didn't get to far and started again this week. Bled them all, put the valve cover back on without silicone to try testing it out again and they still ticked. Took it all apart yet again and completely replaced all of the hla's with ones from another VH I have that I know were good. Bled all of those before putting them in, put the valve cover on, and yet again they ticked.

After that I got out the stethoscope and listened again. I heard the ticking in the right valve cover and the block which then made me think bearing, however, the left valve cover was completely silent so I'm at a loss. Before starting the car I pulled the fuel pump fuse to build up oil pressure while cranking. Cranked a little bit after the oil light turned off so went ahead and started it. On top of the ticking the engine has a hard time running, acts like it has a heaving miss vibrating very poorly, and tries to die unless I give it some throttle. The ticking is relatively even but sometimes ticks unevenly as well.

Any ideas?

[gs14racer]

No help to you but i have the same ticking, its in the drivers side head though towards the back. It is definitly not the lifters, I dont know what it is frankly but my motor is runnning fine so im not to worried for now.

[Carl H]

is your cam timing right?ticking might be the pistons nicking the valves.

[gs14racer]

Well in my case, short of the timing chain jumping a tooth, it should be ok, as i have never opened it.

[Stinky]

What about the vtc unit? If I recall the vg30de has a similiar vtc that can start to make noise if the internal spring weakens. Might be something to check.

[Carl H]

does the ticking increase with revs noticably?might be a cracked coil arcing to the head.

[SuperHatch]

If your timing chain tensioner is bad or air bound it can tick as well. Plus, if it was failing and your PS chain just jumped a tooth it would cause the rough running you're now experiencing.

[qsiguy]

Pre '93 VH motors need to have upgraded timing chain guides or they are prone to fail without much notice. I assume you know of this but thought I'd mention it.

[mtcookson]

I don't believe the timing is off... but, I'll definitely check. Cranking it by hand I don't feel anything abnormal as far as anything hitting.

Have swapped to the metal guides.

I did wonder about the VTC "activator"... though, that along with the coils arcing I wouldn't think would be able to produce the loud knocking that it is.... but I'm up for anything so I'll definitely check those. I'll also try getting a video/sound clip as well.

[PanzerAce]

Does it go away or get softer after the engine has fully warmed up?

[DriftingisLame]

I've had piston slap in a motor before that sounded like it was coming from the head, I did the same thing, bleeding the lifters and reinstalling. It never helped, eventually I comp tested the motor and found really low compression in one cylinder.

I'd say that, or maybe a clogged oil passage that wont give oil to a lifter or two... If they dont have oil pressure it will make a hell of a knock from the head.