Freshly rebuilt 350 burning oil and tappet noise.

[gavotter333]

Originally Posted by Gray Ghost

The brand of oil should not have made the difference to break the parts. I very much doubt the cam could have gone south in the last 40 miles of a 4040 life. But that said stranger things have happened. Had buddy who went through four cams that all went flat in his new motor.

I doubt that is your problem though...sounds to me like a collapsed lifter at this point.

I have to agree at this point. I have been doing more and more reading and talking with the builder. I think its unlikely that the cam is flat. I also think 40 miles might be an exaggeration. This is new york. I dont drive much as its been snowing and freezing. Although I did put 45 series Bridgestone Bizzac tires on the beast in Oklahoma. They stick like superglue.

The tapping noise also fluctuates a little. or at least did over the last few days. and at idle is not always there. I have a feeling that it might be the combination of the regular oil and the older w30 ND oil that has formed a kind of glue in the engine.