340 valve train noise

[smallblocksrock]

I have a 73 340 with valve train noise on the drivers side.  The car has not been driven over 5 miles since freshened to stock specs with rings, bearings, stock cam, valve job, and new hydraulic lifters.   The rockers were set to spec by rotating crank 90 degrees and following chart as described on the CC board.  Using a stethoscope, the greatest "tapping" is at the #5 cylinder intake and exhaust.  Tightening the rocker does not eliminate the noise.  I can also hear the noise on cylinder #7, but not as loud.   The pushrod and the lifters are rotating in position.   My oil pressure at idle is about 30 lbs.   The tapping does not go away at higher rpm.
Any recommendations to fix this problem?
 

[Cooter]

VERY HARD to diagnose an engine problem over the Internet, but here goes....



First, you say "Stock Cam" and "New Hydraulic Lifters"...Did you reuse the original cam, or is it a "New replacement" stock cam?

IF it's a new cam, Did you Break in the cam and lifters? (Run at around 2000 RPM for about 30 min.)

You say "tightening the rocker doesn't eliminate the noise" I assume they adjustable rockers? Hydraulic Lifters require a "preload" and CANNOT be set like Solid lifters...There should be no clearance with a Hydraulic lifter...

[Chryco Psycho]

if it is a hyd cam has the lifter collapsed ? , this is not uncommon

[smallblocksrock]

I reused the original cam, but still did the break in for the engine freshening.  I tightened the rockers to see if it would remove any slop, but it had zero impact.

Is it common for new lifters to collapse?

[smallblocksrock]

Clarification,  the engine had been rebuilt when I purchased it, so the cam was from a previous build.  It was not original to the engine.     I will pull lifters during the holidays.
Thanks!

[IMNCARN82]

Are you using a mechanical pump? They make noise. I thought it was lifters too. There was quite a difference.

[Chryco Psycho]

crank it over and make sure the valves are moving , yopu may have lost a lobe 

[smallblocksrock]

So today I replaced all lifters on the drivers side.  Started it up and it still has alot of noise. 
Observations:
I am getting rocker lift.
The pushrods are not bent and are rotating along with the lifters. 
Once out of the car, I pushed on the old lifters with a pushrod and got zero travel.
The new lifters moved easily.   I put them in oil and purged some of the air out. 
I made several adjustment and still no improvement.
When I use the stethoscope on the  passenger side, it sounds smooth., like a sewing machine. Drivers side has significant clicking.
I checked the exhaust manifold for leaks and did not find any.
The ticking noise seems to be worse at the #5 cylinder.
The cam lobes looked good.
If a mechanical fuel pump was the issue, I would expect the ticking on both banks.
Thanks.

[femtnmax]

Exhaust manifold gasket leaks can sound like a valve train problem, but I would not think the stethescope would hear it.
If you can idle the engine down slow enough to not pump oil all over the place, remove the valve cover and run the engine at idle.  Slip a feeler gauge between rocker arm and valve stem, see if sound changes.  Also can put stethescope directly on rocker shaft/arm to look for problem.  I have seen where a pushrod was catching on head, made a heck of a racket.

[mikerallye]

You sure its not a rod knock? 

[Cooter]

Wrist pin? Due to a crossfiring problem with #5 and #7 Cylinders?

[mopar12372]

the lifters should get 1-1.5 turns if you get them too tight you will loose power . looser the better .
yes they do make noise if you adjust them for power . are the rocker arms good not cracked smashed or the top pushed through . this requires very close inspection is common on mopars .

[smallblocksrock]

Mystery solved.  I pulled the intake off and several of the cam lobes are worn.

[Chryco Psycho]

Ouch
Use a good oil withthe new cam 

[jimynick]

Sorry to hear about your cam. I was wondering if it could have been because the old LA oiled through the block and the newer one I believe oils through the push rods like a chevy. If they gave you magnum lifters in a older block do the oil inlet holes in the lifter body match up with the block's oil feed? Not trying to hijack the thread, just curious if anyone has run into this before.
PS- you can buy a nitrided cam from the manufacturers these days, might give a little comfort in these days of lousy oil and if you're running double springs take the inners out until you get the cam broken in. Good luck!