Since you are all on this page! Help

[72superBB]

When I drive down the road, I hear a steady, constant clicking. IS this lifter noise and is it normal?

I am changing the valve cover gaskets today and I thought I would look into this while the covers are off.

thanks for your input.

Ron

[rage'nrat638]

DOES THE CLICKING CHANGE WITH THE RPM'S OF THE ENGINE???
IF SO IT'S LIFTERS....
IF NOT IT'S SOMETHING ELSE

[lukecp]

It could be. You need to isolate where the sound is coming from.

If it is present at idle with the engie in park, get a lenght of garden hose (or just about any other hose or a piece of pipe) and put one end on your ear, and probe the engine bay with the other end. You will know it when you find the source of the noise...it will get really loud through the hose.

[72superBB]

It stays the same steady noise. You can hear it real good when you really listen to it on a long drive.

I have a buddy that it really bothers him. After he told me this, I notice it much more.

thanks

Ron

[72superBB]

If it is just lifter noise, then what is the solution for it?

I am taking the valve covers off either way, so do they need adjusting, and if so, how?

thanks guys.

Ron


(LOOK, Post #100 and my truck for my avatar!)

[cableguy0]

its possible that its an exhaust leak dont overlook that lifters ticking and exhaust leaks sound very similar at times

[72superBB]

With the valve covers off, is there something I can do to see if lifters are loose or need adjusting?

Or should I leave it alone and not worry about it?

thanks

Ron

[walker]

Since you are taking the covers off go ahead and follow the valve adjustment procedure. With a cylinder on tdc you can adjust intake and exhaust valves. Tighten the nut until all lash is removed, twist the pushrod in your fingers while tightening the nut, when resistance is felt there is zero lash. Tighten nut an additional 1/2 to 3/4 turn. Start this procedure on the #1 cylinder then rotate crank 1/4 turn then do the next cylider in the firing order, then another 1/4 turn....
Just so you know Chevrolet is an acronym for "Can Hear Every Valve Rattle On Long Extended Trips."

[old Rusty C10]

if you dont know about them dont mess with it until you have someone around who does know. if the noise stays the same the whole time its not lifters

[shuttermutt]

Can you tell if the "click" is at engine speed or 1/2 engine speed? If you're not used to troubleshooting by ear, this may not make much sense, but it can really help diagnose the problem. The garden hose idea can help a great deal, too.

Since the click is constant, I doubt it's valve train related. Sure, it won't hurt to go ahead and set the valves, but remember that Chevys don't like 'em tight. Walker's method will work. Another shadetree Chevy method is to back it off slowly until it starts "talking" then tighten it until it juuuust doesn't. It's not scientific, but it's how I've set 'em for years.

See if you can answer these questions...

1. Where does the sound come from? Front? Back? Left? Right?

2. Is it a high-pitch click (like a screwdriver tapping an oil filter) or a low-pitch click (like a wooden hammer handle tapping an oil pan)?

3. How fast is it? Is it slow (like the tempo of "Love Me Do" by the Beatles) or fast (like a heavy metal rampage)?

4. Does it happen when cold? Hot? Both?

5. Automatic or manual? If automatic, does it happen when the truck's not in a drive gear?

6. Has anything changed recently? New plugs? Tune up? HEI swap? Oil change? Anything?

Other things that can "click" include...

- Fuel pump
- Distributor (all kinds of possibilities)
- Heat riser flap
- Lifter

Hope we can help!

[Locutus]

One other thing to consider is the speedometer. My 72 had a bad cable that would click. The sound gets faster with speed but doesn't drop with RPM like lifters would. Just a thought if nothing else pans out.


Mike

[lukecp]

Originally posted by Locutus
One other thing to consider is the speedometer. My 72 had a bad cable that would click. The sound gets faster with speed but doesn't drop with RPM like lifters would. Just a thought if nothing else pans out.


Mike

I also have had the speedometer cable start rapping before. Mine is the slip on type (which everyone says was never used in these trucks, but mine has it), and it had worked off the back of the speedometer.