Name that sound... Valves, lifters, other?

[thecrazygreek]

1978 FJ40 stock engine with Holley Sniper efi installed.

Just changed head gasket, got it running, now adjusting valves. Thought noise was a noisy valve, but maybe it's a lifter? Or what? Need a master to diagnose.

Link below. Sorry for crappy vid...

 

[thecrazygreek]

Video

Sounds like it's coming from the number 8 or 9 valve area...

 

[Steamer]

One does sound louder than the others. Assuming the valves are adjusted, things I would try to locate which one would be,

1. hose to the ear.

2. A finger on each rocker to try and find which one syncs with the noise.

3. Slip a feeler gauge under each one & listen for a change.

Also check for oil flow out of each rocker at both ends.

EDIT: oops, just re-read your post & see you asked for a master. That ain't me.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Good suggestions is all I'm looking for... thanks!

 

[thecrazygreek]

Any other opinions?

 

[Steamer]

Just curious. When you had the head off, Did you check the removed rocker assembly for slop?

I ask because when I first got my rig I put the head in a shop for a going over. While I was de-gunking the rocker assembly I noticed that when rotating the rockers on the shaft, they felt kinda funky. On disassembly, I found bad wear on the shaft. I also found plugged oil holes in the rockers which probably led to the excessive wear. I was just wondering if your noise could be from rocker slop.
I got a new shaft & bushings and spent a bit of time cleaning out all the oil holes in the rockers. I used cutting torch tip cleaners and some stainless fishing leader wire along with penetrating oil and air. When I spun the oil pump with a drill before start up I had good oil flow out of all 24 openings.

 

[rkymtnflyfisher]

It’s not supposed to sound like that?




I should go check mine now.

 

[John McVicker]

To help identify exactly where the sound is coming from, start the engine, then pull one plug wire at a time, replace the wire & go to the next one. When the sound goes away you at least know where to look/work for your solution.

 

[thecrazygreek]

To help identify exactly where the sound is coming from, start the engine, then pull one plug wire at a time, replace the wire & go to the next one. When the sound goes away you at least know where to look/work for your solution.

I actually did this, and there was no sound change which made me scratch my head. I think maybe, I slightly bent a push-rod. If so, might that cause the noise regardless of the cylinder being "live". ? I tested all the pushrods by rolling them on a flat surface and they all seemed ok prior to install.

I hope it's not a rod bearing slapping... I am not familiar with that noise.

 

[Splangy]

I actually did this, and there was no sound change which made me scratch my head. I think maybe, I slightly bent a push-rod. If so, might that cause the noise regardless of the cylinder being "live". ? I tested all the pushrods by rolling them on a flat surface and they all seemed ok prior to install.

I hope it's not a rod bearing slapping... I am not familiar with that noise.

The slightest bend in a pushrod can make a lot of valve train noise that would continue even with the spark plug wire pulled.

 

[John McVicker]

I can’t really tell by just the video. And I agree with @Splangy , it doesn’t take much for a pushrod to become noisy...but hard to tell by the video.

 

[thecrazygreek]

The slightest bend in a pushrod can make a lot of valve train noise that would continue even with the spark plug wire pulled.

Thanks!
I think that must be the issue.
I had a feeling one of the pushrods had a slight wobble... didn't think much of it. And it's in the area making noise.
I guess I'll be okay running it for a few days while I buy a couple new push rods?
I assume I can still buy these new...
Off to research I go...

 

[thecrazygreek]

Just ordered two new oem pushrods. Arriving Sat...
Looks like ill be adjusting another set of valves.... again...
I'll pull them out and verify which one is bent. Then replace both pushrods for that cylinder with the new ones.
Hopefully that ends this issue...

 

[Splangy]

Just ordered two new oem pushrods. Arriving Sat...
Looks like ill be adjusting another set of valves.... again..., I'll pull them out and verify which one is bent. Then replace both pushrods for that cylinder with the new ones.
Hopefully that ends this issue...

If you think it’s the pushrods, I’d probably pull them and check them for straightness before ordering any more and before doing the valves again.

 

[Steamer]

I had a feeling one of the pushrods had a slight wobble... didn't think much of it. And it's in the area making noise.

Ah! This would of helped in the first post. Hope you've found it.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Ah! This would of helped in the first post. Hope you've found it.

You're right, but I didn't really think of it till after... When I rolled them for straightness they all seemed "good enough". But after going back through all the steps, I thought "hmmm one or two of those last push-rods maybe had a bit of a wobble"...

( I think I F'd them up by accidentally stepping on them when trying to maneuver through my garage)

Anyway, I will be pulling the rocker assembly, and doing a closer inspection of the push-rods. Hopefully the two I ordered will be enough. They are not that cheap compared to ones for a SBC...

 

[middlecalf]

Well if you did put the wobble in them by stepping on them after they were removed then replacing them, while necessary, unfortunately won’t fix your original noise problem. Good luck with fix.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Well if you did put the wobble in them by stepping on them after they were removed then replacing them, while necessary, unfortunately won’t fix your original noise problem. Good luck with fix.

Wait what?... why not?
Is it because everything has been working together since new and has worn at the same pace? And new ones would knock that out of whack?

 

[middlecalf]

Ok, duh on my part, helps to read the whole thread lol. So you had the engine apart to replace the head gasket, etc. and when the rods were scattered around your shop floor ( ) you accidentally stepped on a couple heading to get a beer out of the fridge, and not realizing you’d stepped on them because this was actually your 5th beer you put all the rods back in, bolted the head back on, grabbed another beer, turned the key and got a bit of valve rattle that wasn’t there before. Is this the event flow? (Minus the beer excursions - maybe?). If so I’d replace the pushrods.

Brilliant Watson!

Serious tongue-in-check.

 

[thecrazygreek]

Holy s*** are you clairvoyant?? Lol...

Too many is def a contributing factor... maybe...

Thanks for the clarification...