Help Please at wits end

[1969GTS]

I’m baffled and at my wits end with this problem. I’m hoping some of you may have some insight. It all comes down to random lifter noise, and I mean RANDOM. I wont hear a ting from this lifter or valve for weeks and then out of the blue it will start ticking like crazy. I’ll change the oil and its silent for weeks. There is no sign of coolant in the oil however when I pulled the valve cover off the drivers side there were a few water droplets on the inside of the valve cover along with some white froth in either corner of the valve cover. The droplets were clear and not green like the coolant. I ran it with the valve cover off and the number five cylinder intake valve is the culprit. When I pressed the rocker arm firmly against the push rod the tick went away while it was running. I assumed I had a bad lifter and replaced the valve cover. When I started it up again it was quiet as a mouse. What the hell is going on? Its a 340 with X heads and a large lift (unknown) hydraulic cam. I did have a leaky intake that I replaced and ran straight water in the engine until I was sure the leak was resolved. Is it possible its just water from the old leak still showing up? The water droplets and white froth worry me. I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or similar experiences.

 

[RedFish]

Best I can describe is like clapping hands versus both hands moving together.
The slack doesn't have to tick the top of the lifter always.
Oil cushion between cam lobe and lifter will stop the sound too.

 

[BJR Racing]

Could it be a worn hyd. rocker?

 

[1969GTS]

Could be either, but why would it just go away at any given time and come back?

 

[mullinax95]

Is it louder or starts making noise after you have goosed the motor real good?

Another words you don't dog the motor the noise goes away then when you have finally raced, burnout etc.. the noise comes back.

 

[camd64]

I had an issue a while back with the white looking froth in my trucks engine and that ended up just being poor crankcase ventilation. i installed a pcv valve and it went away. think of it like when you first fire up your motor on a cold day and you get condensation out the exhaust. as far as the lifter tick i would say something inside the lifter is sticking. i would pull that lifter and take it apart inspect and clean it out. maybe the plunger inside is worn and rocking in its bore or even the spring could be cracked?

 

[1969GTS]

Its an unfinished project and has only driven to the end of the driveway. The noise shows up upon start up when it does show up.

 

[1969GTS]

I had an issue a while back with the white looking froth in my trucks engine and that ended up just being poor crankcase ventilation. i installed a pcv valve and it went away. think of it like when you first fire up your motor on a cold day and you get condensation out the exhaust. as far as the lifter tick i would say something inside the lifter is sticking. i would pull that lifter and take it apart inspect and clean it out. maybe the plunger inside is worn and rocking in its bore or even the spring could be cracked?

Crankcase ventilation makes sense! THANKS. If its a lifter I may just replace them but I'm sure they develop a wear pattern with the camshaft and I'm not sure if replacing them with out replacing the cam would be a good idea?

 

[mullinax95]

Crankcase ventilation makes sense! THANKS. If its a lifter I may just replace them but I'm sure they develop a wear pattern with the camshaft and I'm not sure if replacing them with out replacing the cam would be a good idea?

It would be ok. Just break it in like you have always... above 2000 first 15 minutes. Think about all the used cams that always for sale. Whoever buys the cam has to buy new lifters and break them in.

 

[waggin]

I'd try pulling the push rod out and measure it next to another one,318 has a shorter pushrod.the water droplets and milkshake deal.....condensation.engine sits more than it is run?drive it more then change the oil after you have put some miles on it to get the stuff out of there.hope this works for ya

 

[1969GTS]

I was concerned with a cracked head when I first got it as I got it running with straight water in the water jacket and ended up with this emulsified mess of oil and water. It turned out the intake manifold was not sealing. Since I resolved that issue I haven't had that happen gain. With coolant in it now the oil would be like milk and its not. It sounds weird but I tasted that crud and it wasn't sweet like coolant. I wouldn't recommend it on toast but is wasn't coolant for sure. I may do a quick compression test to make sure I don't have a head gasket leak as the crud is only on one side. That side also didn't have an oil filler cap for years before I got it as well.

Thanks for the help so far

Dave

 

[1969GTS]

It would be ok. Just break it in like you have always... above 2000 first 15 minutes. Think about all the used cams that always for sale. Whoever buys the cam has to buy new lifters and break them in.

I'd like to go with a roller cam but we'll see what I have left in the budget after the paint and body work. The are spendy.