tapping in engine head

[ericindc]

I have a tapping in the passenger side head on my engine that started on a recent drive.

Its a 67 440 engine that was completely machined and redone. So stock 906 heads.  It was sitting for a couple years before install, but we pulled it a apart and checked everything and it seemed ok.

The tapping is proportional to the rpm, so i figure its something in either a valve or lifter.  I'm going to try a couple things before i pull the head apart.  I figure i will do the obvious and change the oil, even tho it only has like 600 miles since installation.  Maybe some gunk was left over from the machine shop. Then I will check to make sure its getting enough oil to the top of the engine.

any other ideas?  Thanks.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

If you have a small leak from where the exhaust manifold or header meets the head, that will sound like a tapping noise too. This might not be your problem, but the bolts are easy enough to re-torque before you start messing around inside the engine.   

  Mike

[Changin Gears]

Pull the valve cover, start the engine, feel each rocker.  You can find the culprit this way.

[dodge freak 2]

Get a big rag-towel and wet it down, then throw on the header pipes near the head and see if the noise changes. I had a header pipe crack before and leaked. Getting the towel wet allows you some time to move it around on the hot pipes before it burns.

But yeah check each push rod-try to move them up or down, really try hard, they should not move much if at all...if you hear it, you found the one.

[moparmaniac59]

Sounds like it could be what has been described or a lifter that is not pumping up. Easy enough to replace and can be found as described. Good luck and keep us posted!!



                                                Matt B.

[71chally416]

Hopefully you didn't wipe a cam lobe on break-in.  And if it's a '67 440 you should have 915 heads. 

[ericindc]

Well, the guy said it was a 67 block, but 67-72 blocks were pretty much the same, the heads casting numbers def make it a 906 head. but anyways.

I will check on exhaust to see if its cracked headers, or a leaky header gasket.

If I can eliminate that, i will try the other things.  I wont get to it until this weeked as I will be in Pennsyltucky for a few days.

[ericindc]

ok. I checked the exhaust and i found no issues with the header gasket. I pulled the valve cover and checked the push rods for movement. I didnt get any vertical movement, but I did notice that the rockers did have some side to side movement along the rocker arm shaft.  I wasnt sure how much side to side movement is acceptable. Its possible I may need to get different shims for the rocker arm shaft.  What is an acceptable amount of horizontal movement for each rocker along the shaft.

[Chryco Psycho]

they were never particularly tight side to side with factory rockers