Likely Valve Train Problem- Help

Hi, guys. I'm looking for anyone's thoughts, Jim??, on a new noise apparantly under the valve cover. It's in the passenger side under the A/C comp and alternator, but we don't think it's either of those. When the car is being driven nicely, no noise. When I run it hard, there is a tick-tick-tick that's clearly noticeable, but begins to fade away while the motor idles and will disappear if it's shut off for a while. Don't know if it goes away totally at idle- haven't idled it that long yet.

First thought is a lifter problem, with it coming and going. Any other thoughts?

It' a 30 over 455, big port 430 heads w/ Stg 1 valves, total milling of heads and block is 20, ported, & small Lunati cam. Any other info help? Many thanks, Jack.ou:

 

It sounds like it is a lifter do to the fact that you said it go,s away after it idles for a min.Most people don,t know this but about a year ago all the lifter co. where bankrupt out of business so there was some shody lifters being made there may be a few still out there but what had happened was that the clearance between the plunger and body was to big witch allowed the lifters to bleed off to much.

 

i had the same thing. it was low oil presure a cruze and when i drove it hard , when the moter heats up and the oil gets thin. my idle presure was ok. i had to rebuild the oil pump. if your moter is worn you may need a booster plate, or maybe a high volume pump to get by till a rebuild?

 

Thanks much. A little more info: Long block and machining was done 3 years ago (maybe 6-7,000 miles) by G&G Performance in Houston. It has a HV oil pump that was rebuilt at that time. Still, it might be an oiling problem.

 

I use a $4 Harbor Freight Mechanical Probe Stethascope to isolate this stuff. I had a similar issue with my 400, it was bad lifters combined with too short stock pushrods, not muck noise at idle or when cold, but when the oil thinned and the rpms were up it got real loud.

 

What's the oil pressure look like at idle, high rpm, and cruise?

 

Got it apart yesterday and the only thing we could find was one lifter a bit soft. New set is in route. Many thanks for the input and hope this is the answer.

 

I copied this from KENNE-BELL's Buick Magazine.

 

Hey, guys. Just a followup. No more ticky-ticky!! Put in a set of case hardened lifters from GSCA and all is fine. BTW, price was very good. A good bit cheaper than GM, even with freight. Thanks for your input!:grin: