Loud ticking after cam swap!
06-19-2009, 08:04 AM
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Loud ticking after cam swap!
I just got a new 220/220 cam installed in my 02 rcsb 5.3. It is making a terrible ticking sound on the passenger side of the valve train. When I picked the truck up from the shop yesterday the told me about the problem and said it was caused by weak lifters. When they were tuning it on the dyno, they said it would quite down after 4,000 rpm, and that's when it started making good power. It still made 340 hp 336 tq!
The ticking sounds is louder than any ticking/exhaust leak I have ever heard. Here is my dilemma, the motor has 170,000 miles. Do I spend the money on new lifter's and replace them? Or just bite the bullet and buy a 6.0?
The cam was a new LSM ab818 cam.
342 intake lift 346 exhaust lift
220 intake duration 220 exhaust duration
intake opens -2 BTDC exhaust opens 42 BBDC
intake closes 42 ABDC exhaust closes -2 ATDC
LCA 112
overlap -4
Springs: new patriot gold dual springs .650 "
pushrods: Texas Speed & Performance Chromemoly Pushrod 7.400"
Other mods are: PS LT's, 3" y pipe, Magnaflow cat back, K&N CAI,3:73 gears, and a custom hp tuner tune, and a 125 dry kit (never used since cam)
The ticking sounds is louder than any ticking/exhaust leak I have ever heard. Here is my dilemma, the motor has 170,000 miles. Do I spend the money on new lifter's and replace them? Or just bite the bullet and buy a 6.0?
The cam was a new LSM ab818 cam.
342 intake lift 346 exhaust lift
220 intake duration 220 exhaust duration
intake opens -2 BTDC exhaust opens 42 BBDC
intake closes 42 ABDC exhaust closes -2 ATDC
LCA 112
overlap -4
Springs: new patriot gold dual springs .650 "
pushrods: Texas Speed & Performance Chromemoly Pushrod 7.400"
Other mods are: PS LT's, 3" y pipe, Magnaflow cat back, K&N CAI,3:73 gears, and a custom hp tuner tune, and a 125 dry kit (never used since cam)
06-19-2009, 08:21 AM
#2
There's no such thing as weak lifters. You either have a hunk of dirt in the lifter plunger OR the roller bearings are failing. I would put a pint of transmission fluid in the oil and drive it like that for about 500 miles. If there's any "soft" dirt or sludge that is causing the lifter to not get its prime, that should clean it. I think what's happening to a lot of you guys is when you get cam swaps done, the shops doing the work install dirty lifter hold up tools. When they remove the tool it leaves **** in your oil galleries. Doesn't take long for that oil to make its way into a lifter upon startup! At any rate, don't freak out. Just drive it for awhile, see what happens. A collapsed or stuck lifter never hurt anything. If anyone says otherwise, ask them how a "solid" lifter works.
Otherwise it may not be a lifter, it could be too long of pushrods, bent pushrod, or even a rocker not tightened down enough.
Lastly, did anyone monkey with the oil pump? Pickup tube? Was pushrod length verified before installation?
Otherwise it may not be a lifter, it could be too long of pushrods, bent pushrod, or even a rocker not tightened down enough.
Lastly, did anyone monkey with the oil pump? Pickup tube? Was pushrod length verified before installation?
06-19-2009, 08:29 AM
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The pushrods were double checked, I was there when they put them in. The shop is a very reputable shop in DFW. As for the oil pump and pick up tube, I'm not sure? The truck is getting good oil pressure, what are the torque specs on the rocker arms? I will check them today along with the push rods.
06-19-2009, 10:32 AM
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The motor just was to many miles. I am afraid to pour more money into it just for it to fail a couple months later. its a strong motor it doesn't leak or use a drop of oil. Hell it ran a 8.0 with a 2.0 60 ft 1/8 mile stock with a 75 dry shot .
I just found a 03 LQ4 out of a 03 3/4 ton with 80,000 for $800.
I just found a 03 LQ4 out of a 03 3/4 ton with 80,000 for $800.
