My father has a 1998 Express van with the 5.7 V8 motor. It has about 48,000 miles and at idle he can hear a ticking sound, he thinks it sounds like something from the valve train.

He said it sounds exactly like the ticking noise of my 1999 Camaro SS 5.7 V8 at idle (I have the piston knock, lifter knock sound).

What do you guys think it is, he is out of warranty and doesn't have cash coming out of his ears. Looking for as much help on this as we can.

Thanks in advance.

 

The 96-99 L31/5.7 motors are pretty solid.

I bet it's an exhaust leak unless he has a valvetrain problem.

 

I put 55,000 miles on a 99 3500 Express cargo van with a 5.7 in 1 year.It made that ticking noise from day one.I abused that van horribly,grossly overloaded trailers were hooked to the back of it daily.I got used to the noise over time.It never let me down.I say keep an eye on your oil level and drive it.I think it is normal for a 5.7 vortec to have vavletrain noise.Ive owned 3 work vehicles with 5.7 vortecs,accumulated 300,000+ miles without any engine problems.None of them let me down or burned oil,unlike the new vortecs.

 

300,000miles miles thats awesome,and that tickin noise I have heard on some of them but wont hurt anything,I dont have it on mine

 

my mom had a 97 suburban with the 5.7 and that SOB had a tick from day 1. my dad bitched about it all the time....finally he bitched to the dealer and they replaced the motor in it and the new one had the same tick. just keep an eye on your vitals and it should be cool

 

Vortec that 300,000 miles was spread out between 3 vehicles.