Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Calendar
Go Back   NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Tech Forums > Engine / Power / Tuning

Notices


Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 09-20-2012, 04:22 PM   #1
Baudi
 
Baudi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Butler
Posts: 9
iTrader: (0)
350 with a sticky lifter/valve

I have a 1989 IROC with the L98 350. While the car used to be my daily driver, it has been off the road for about 5 years. I would periodically take it out to start it up and clean it. This year I decided to start driving it as a weekend car and I've noticed a persistent ticking noise both while idling and driving. My guess would be that it's a sticking lifter or valve since I hear it coming from near the passenger side valve cover.

Now I've heard of people using 1/4 or 1/2 a quart of ATF in the crankcase, or Marvel Mystery Oil, or Seafoam to deal with sticking lifters?

What would you guys recommend? Any tips or tricks that may help alleviate the ticking noise without having to tear apart my engine?
Baudi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2012, 04:48 PM   #2
WildBillyT
Ayatollah of Rock N Rolla / Admin
 
WildBillyT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 12,573
iTrader: (10)
Did you change the oil before you started it up?
WildBillyT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2012, 05:39 PM   #3
deadtrend1
11 second club / Moderator
 
deadtrend1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: West Berlin, NJ
Posts: 7,148
iTrader: (11)
Also could be an exhaust leak
__________________
2001 Trans Am WS6 •SLP Loudmouth II •UMI Suspension •12.857 @ 109.57

1996 Trans Am WS6 •Pacesetter Longtubes •Strange 12 Bolt •Spohn Suspension •11.152 @ 123.85
deadtrend1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2012, 05:43 PM   #4
Baudi
 
Baudi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Butler
Posts: 9
iTrader: (0)
Yes, I've changed the oil along with the coolant and the transmission fluid since putting the car back on the road. I also had a crack in my y-pipe which I originally thought may have been causing the ticking noise. I've since replaced the y-pipe and the old catalytic converter. So I can confirm that there are no exhaust leaks.
Baudi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2012, 06:57 PM   #5
The_Bishop
Power Member
 
The_Bishop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 1,632
iTrader: (3)
Toss a quart of marvel mystery oil in the crankcase and let it idle for a while. If you drive it, go easy on it. Once it frees up the lifter, change out the oil and filter.
__________________
1998 Z-28 - SLP lid - Ported TB - LS6 Intake - Dynatech SS headers/Catted Y - Magnaflow Exh - 3.42 - Yank SS3600 - UMI weld-in subframe connectors, Adj LCA, Adj PHB, Q1A TA - Bolt-in Relocation Brackets - Strano springs - Koni shocks - 17" C6Z06 wheels - 326HP/335ft-lbs - 12.35 @ 110.41

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6 View Post
I can appreciate a dream but this person needed some real friends.
The_Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2012, 08:19 PM   #6
sweetbmxrider
Meet Coordinator
 
sweetbmxrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: brick/pt. pleasant beach
Posts: 19,341
iTrader: (12)
Use a screwdriver to probe for the ticking. Put it on several sections of the valve cover, exhaust, etc to see if you can identify where the noise is coming from precisely.
__________________
sweetbmxrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2012, 08:50 PM   #7
The_Bishop
Power Member
 
The_Bishop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 1,632
iTrader: (3)
Yes, that too. Are you sure it's a stuck lifter?
__________________
1998 Z-28 - SLP lid - Ported TB - LS6 Intake - Dynatech SS headers/Catted Y - Magnaflow Exh - 3.42 - Yank SS3600 - UMI weld-in subframe connectors, Adj LCA, Adj PHB, Q1A TA - Bolt-in Relocation Brackets - Strano springs - Koni shocks - 17" C6Z06 wheels - 326HP/335ft-lbs - 12.35 @ 110.41

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6 View Post
I can appreciate a dream but this person needed some real friends.
The_Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-23-2012, 09:25 AM   #8
greenformula92
 
greenformula92's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Brick, NJ
Posts: 1,868
iTrader: (1)
After sitting 5 years anything is possible. Now I know this is compairing apples to oranges but a friend of mine had bought a 240SX a while back that have a really nasty valve tap. The first oil change was with lucas and he drove it. After about 600 miles the tap went away and never came back, and he never put Lucas in it again. It's very possible you just have something a little sticky. 5 years is a long time
__________________
Formerly known as blk95formula
86t/a_ram_air on TGO

2018 Silverado 1500
greenformula92 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2012, 02:46 PM   #9
Baudi
 
Baudi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Butler
Posts: 9
iTrader: (0)
Yeah, I know there are a number of possibilities. It's not that the car wasn't run for 5 years, it just wasn't driven more than up and down my block a couple of times a year. Since it's been back on the road this year, I've driven it about 1500 miles including a lot of highway driving.
Baudi is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

  NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Tech Forums > Engine / Power / Tuning


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

» Sponsor List














All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.