Ive got the drivers head off the other day and have now completely stripped it, including valve stem seals.

I notice on some lifter there is a slight indent in the top, which would give me some tapping, but nothing like the sound it was making, there is nothing obvious in the head as to why it was making so much noise.

The oil ways were pretty gunked and have cleaned them out and given them a blow through with the air compressor.

 

Im going to put new stem seals, valves and cams off a spare head, to eliminate anything mechanical head wise, im hoping now it wasnt bottom end lol, but the clattering seemed high up, ie a head and i dont think piston slap would make that noise either, but time will tell when i put it back together.

Good luck Graham - hopefully you'll have it done in time for JAE....:clover:

 

And if you're not there, we're heading over to The Island very soon, so we can catch up then, if you and Julie are around:thumbup:

Good luck mate

Sounds like its still a mystery to what the sound is mate. Hope it all works out when you put it back together and its not another strip down. Good luck.

I would pull the engine next time, far quicker lol

Is there any evidence of damage to the cams etc from oil starvation? While your stripped to the short block you could always pull it out won't take you much longer will it, then you can inspect the bottom end for play and wear, be easier to check now.

True, it would be easier lol there are no marks or evidence of scoring on the cam lobes, there are several lifters with a circular indent and three that have the end of a cam lobe indent ie a definitive line in the centre. So the indents and lines will make the lifters tap, but they would have to be all totally empty of oil or shot to create the rattle noise i was hearing from that bank.

 

The oil was black and gunky and did notice a lump/clot come out of an oil way, when i directed the air blower through the tiny hole in the cam carrier, so i do feel that there was oil starvation, i would also expect to see something really obvious, damage wise, however i guess if the head was running lets say, with no oil then it would clatter, metal to metal. Thats my assumption so far anyway :thumbup1:

Yeah, I suppose as well with little oil the lifters would tick louder. Might Bedworth using some assembly lube when you reassemble, I skipped that step on an old pinto and the cam jammed on initial start up, had to rebuild the head.

Will look into getting some, i was going to use new oil, but i guess ive come this far to do it right may as well get some :thumbup1:

 

The more i think about it, im convinced that the lack of oil to the lifters and the damage on the lifter surface is the cause of the clatter noise and with no oil pressure in the lifter, it wasnt opening the valves fully, hence loss of power and lumpy running.

The only real pain in the ass, is getting the collets back on the top of the valve with it being so deep set into the head :thumbdown: