Will this fix my ticking noise?

[SnS C10]

Hey everyone. In my 72 gmc c1500 lwb, I have a 350 with hooker super comps, gm alumimum intake, q jet, hei and all else stock. At idle, there is what sounds like a lifter tick coming from passenger side wit around number 8 cylinder. I adjusted all valves, tick is still there. When I raise rpms, it goes away. When it drops back to idle, it ticks. Im thinking.....imcreased oil pressure when raising rpms it forcing more oil through a bad lifter? If I replaced the lifter on that side of the engine, should it fix my tick? Also, the engine runs very very good and has a lot of power
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[Copperman]

It might just be something as simple as an exhaust leak. My header bolts always seems to loosen up and if they are not tight or burn a small hole in your gasket they will tick loudly as you described. I would check your header gaskets first before screwing around with anything else.
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[SnS C10]

Yea I thought that too. Everything is tight on the headers. No signs of gaskets leaking. Even used the spray bottle on there to check for air leaks. Im thinking the lifter is just bad for that cylinder? The tick is not getting worse, just wont go away. Should I just pull the rockers and intake? How would I tell if the lifter if not working properly when I get it out?
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[Secret Squirrel]

Are you sure it is not the PCV valve (the thing that plugs into your pass side valve cover). It will tick sometimes, try disconnecting it to see if the tick goes away.

[SnS C10]

Yea I tried that too and the tick is still there. Kimda seems like im out of options. But, is it as easy as pulling the bad lifter out and puttimg in a new one. I have a nice set of used lifter from another 350 I have, can I put one of those in?
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[geezer#99]

Isolate where the tick is coming from. Make a stethoscope from an old 3 foot piece of garden hose with a funnel in the end.
Or use a 3 foot length of wooden broom handle to listen into your motor. Stick one end behind your ear and put the other end tight onto various spots on your motor. You'll be amazed what you can here. Watch for the fan though!!
Don't use old lifters. You'll wipe a cam lobe.

[SnS C10]

So do I need to buy a whole new set of lifter? I have some lifter from a bone stock chevy 350 that ran fine. I cant just put one of those in?
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[geezer#99]

No!
Use a new one if you must.
You can buy just one.

[leddzepp]

Put some Sea Foam in the crankcase and see if that helps. Could have a sticky lifter.

[GMCJOE]

If it is a lifter, I wouldn't use anything but new. Also, if it is a bad lifter it could cause wear on the cam shaft lobe. I would also check to see if your timing is set right, it sounds like when your rev the truck up the advance is correcting the ticking. Either that or your tappet is building pressure under RPM's.

[SnS C10]

Ok on buying a new lifter. my timing is set about 12 degrees btdc. I may give the seafoam a try if the timimg adjustment doesnt fix it
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[1970 CST Short Wide]

Once a cam and lifters have been run for some time a wear pattern is created. If you put a new lifter on an old cam or old lifters on a new cam you’re taking a chance on changing that wear pattern and possibly destroying your cam and or lifters. You may get away with it but I would only do it as a last option.

Good Luck

[SnS C10]

Before I change out the lifter, do you guys think the seafoam will work or should I just stop screwing around and get some new lifters in there. Keep in mind that this engine when I replaced the head gaskets, had ALOT of carbon deposits in the head, all over the intake, etc...could it be that the lifter is just clogged? when I first started this engine the tick was really bad, like sounded as if it was gonna blow. I added some extra oil, and the tick totally went away, for weeks now..now, after a few oil changes to get milky oil out, the tick is back, just much quieter and only at idle
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[SnS C10]

So I assume from the real bad tick I,heard from the same area before, that the lifter was stuck, since the noise seemed to have gone away. Maybe im just noticing the noise now, or maybe it never totally left. Anyways sorry guys I should have said this in the beginning.
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[GMCJOE]

When you initially set you timing, did you do it with the vacuum advance unhook? If not you could be off. It is recommended to set your BTDC with the vacuum advance unhooked.

[GMCJOE]

Question time. Is this the engine you scored from the lady next door? Or is this the cracked block one?

Need some history here. Cause I remember you having some issues with an engine, cracked block and what not. Then scored that engine from your neighbor.

[SnS C10]

I will double check the timing tonight and let you know what it is
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[SnS C10]

i checked the timing with the throttle cable unhooked and vacuum advance unhooked as well. timing was 12 degrees btdc. i moved it to 10 degrees and locked it down. the noise is still there. no exhaust leaks, engine runs perfect otherwise. going to try a bottle of rislone engine treatment to see if the lifter is clogged. i will try that tomorrow and if that doesnt work, ill replace the lifters later. since the tick is only at idle, is it doing any damage to the engine since it goes away so easily and is not very loud?

[GMCJOE]

Still need the history. Is this the engine you have been having all the problems with (water in the cylinder, milky oil)? Or is it the engine that you got from your neighbor?

If it is a lifter, and it continues to tick, even if it goes away under throttle. You will still be causing unnecessary wear on the cam.

[zac]

I once replaced all the rod bearings in a 350 to get rid of a ticking noise. Did it in the parking lot of our apartment building with the engine in the truck. Turns out it was a broken spring in the fuel pump. The rod was sort of knocking back and forth. At least the oil pressure was a slightly higher with new rod bearings. Of course the fuel pump is at the front....

[re1]

check your fuel pump,
they can make a ticking noise sometimes.

[SnS C10]

Gmc joe this is the same engine with the milky oil. That problem is all fixed and its running good. The engine from my neighbor is still sitting in the garage. I have been tempted to pull the parts off the engine in the truck and put them on my engine in the garage
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[GMCJOE]

It could be caused because of the fuel pump rod or worn cam lobe for the the fuel pump. It is hard to say. But having the water in the oil could have caused some issues with other components, such as causing a lifter to fail. You could also have a valve tapping on the top of a piston. Or a bad rod bearing at the piston.

I would start building that spare 350 you have. Rebuild it with new mains, rings, put a new cam and lifters in (cam bearings while you are at it). You can build a nice budget engine. Don't need to go all out, just enough to push your truck around good and to know you have an engine with no issues. Vortec heads are a good bolt on HP upgrade for a budget build and can be picked up for a good price.

[Nitschke]

If you change lifters you need to treat it as a now cam and break them in. Good luck
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[SnS C10]

Well everyone, afterwork yesterday I worked on truck. I drove it around for 15 minutes to warm it up. Drained a quart of oil and added the rislone engine treatment. Started it up and after a few minutes of running, the tick is still there. Infact,the noise is much louder when the engine is warmed up compared to on start up. I drove it around some more, noise still there. Adjusted the valves while running, noise is still there and I see nothing out of the ordinary with the valve train either. Starting to think its a bearing from when the water was in the oil....going to start building my 350 4 bolt main in the garage and probably get rid of this engine
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