I have aftermarket valve covers, so the rockers hitting them isn't a problem (i also checked clearance just to be safe). Yes i have the 1.6 golds, when i originally assembled the engine i used crane retainers and had a problem with the side of the rockers hitting the retainers, so i used some lt4 lightweight retainers and the clearance is fine, I also had the springs measured on my heads to make sure they would still accomadate the lift of the cam and the spec didn't change. I didn't check the pushrod length but valvetrain specs on this one are pretty much the same as my old one except for the cam, ill check the length but im only having a tick from one lifter/rocker/whatever is causing the tick not all of them. I know if the pushrod length is to short it could cause a tick but i don't think that is the case but like i said i will check. I do have a full set of stock rockers that i guess i could try and replace the one but im really thinking the noise is comming from somewhere else. Would a improper length pushrod really make that loud of a click?? i didn't think it would

Oh the sound is pretty much the same sound as a loose rocker, except all the rockers are tight and the preload is set right on all the rockers. I also checked the lifters by pressing down on the back side of the rocker when the valve on each rocker was closed to see if it would press down at all (for a collapsed or leaking lifter) and with about 50 pounds of force or more they didn't budge, so i don't think its the lifters (but i could be wrong)

 

Which covers do you have . I know you said that you checked the clearance . When I put my motor together in my camaro , i used the Vortec heads , 1.5 roller rockers , and aftermarket valve covers. The company that I bought the rockers and covers from said they would clear but they didnt . Eventually they wore a small spot into the cover.. You might of already done this but did you check the inside of the cover to see if it was wearing? You seem to be doing all the things that we would be checking.

 

One way to check pushrod length is to take a rocker loose and dab a bit of light greese on top of the valve stem re-install that one rocker, roll the motor over by hand and then remove rocker,inspect greese mark,the roller should start at one end and roll across the stem and be fairly close to even.I know on comp or cranes site they show a pic of this.At some point you will need to isolate which cyl this noise is coming from.

 

Ya i have checked the valve covers for any marks, there aren't any marks at all on either the rockers or the covers, So the clearance should be fine.

Ya im going to check for proper length, trying to isolate which cyl the noise is coming from is what im trying to do but im not having much luck

 

frankly,inspite of any valvetrain noise,did you research how you were going to tune and fuel a vortec stroker?Im not sure if it has been done sucsesfully to date.

 

yup, already have it tuned from ed wright, i upgraded the fuel injectors from the poppets so they can support more fuel pressure which means i can get a external fpr to increase pressure for more fuel. As of right now with the tune and upgraded injectors my a/f ratio is perfect at wot. There is a guy with the name of vortec stroker on fsc that is at about 400 flywheel hp on the old style poppets and a ed wright tune... the fueling system is completly stock and he has like a 12.5:1 a/f ratio in the upper end at wot. I have the tune and fueling down pretty good for right now, its just the valvetrain that im having issues with

 

Im kind of curious about checking the pushrod length, i have been reading about it and how you can use grease or a non permanent marker, then you set the preload and turn it over so the rocker goes all the way down and then back up and how you should have just a spot in the middle of the valve with no grease or marker on it... but i have also been reading that since its a hydralic lifter it will bleed down as you turn it over, so how can you measure the length acurately? if you where to start it and let all the lifters pump up and then remove the rocker and put the grease and everything on there would they stay pumped up long enough to get a accurate reading?

 

Ok if anyone is interested, i pulled the rocker that had came loose off again and rolled it on a piece of glass, you could hear that it was slightly bent and would stop at some points, also the ball that sits in the lifter was scored a little, i really don't think it was bent enough to make a difference, but i replaced it anyways. I put it all back together and it seemed like it might have quited down another noise i had (a slight tick) that i wasn't to concerned about. The original noise seemd to barely be there and seems to come and go with heat... So i went by the machine shop that helped me with the engine and talked to the guy and he told me that it was piston rattle and is very very common with the pistons im running (keith blacks) and that is the reason a lot of people don't run them. He said that it won't hurt anything and not to worry about it and it could go away with time. So pretty much when its cold out i have piston slap like the new vortec engines

Oh ya i also checked the pushrod lengths and they where correct

 

Bet it feels good to have that off your mind now!!

 

Now go break that beeotch in so you can give me a ride.