valve tap cold start

[Jamie]

 Hi folks!  I have a mopar block 360(1990) reman.  eddy 58 cc magnum heads, comp cam and lifters  ( pedestal rockers 1.6 )  .
When cold start or sitting for couple of hours, I get lifter noise on start up. I swapped new cam and lifters down from comps 286h to 268h for lower duration and I still have same noises. Is my oil pump bleeding down when sitting?

[cudabob496]

if it goes away after a few seconds, your oil may be too thick.
I run 0wt-30 synthetic in my 496.
Synthetic flows quicker to the valve train.

[Chryco Psycho]

This is the same problem Doug VT Mopar from Vermont had , when the engine sits the spring pressure bleeds down the lifter & it takes a few second to pump back up on the valves that are open , be careful you could drop a pushrod out if you have adjustable rockers .

[Jamie]

it does go away after a few seconds. it is annoying especially since i just replaced all the lifters and cam!!! I will change the oil this week with cudabob's oil and see how that goes.  This winter i am going to build the 340 I have to a stroker and I am wondering If I should do  a roller cam and if there is a better lifter manufacturer?

[Chryco Psycho]

no matter what the brand name Johnson is the ONLY good lifter still made

[72cudamaan]

Of course when you change that oil to 0 weight, remember that oil drains back OUT of the valvetrain quicker too. What
oil filter are you using? Does it have an anti drainback valve in it ?

[BIGSHCLUNK]

   oil is a 2-way street

[cudabob496]

Of course when you change that oil to 0 weight, remember that oil drains back OUT of the valvetrain quicker too. What
oil filter are you using? Does it have an anti drainback valve in it ?

Not sure I understand the "drain back out" concern?  But 5w-30 full synthetic
might be a better place to start, and will give slightly higher operating pressure
once things warm up.

90% of engine wear occurs at startup, when the oil pump is trying to deliver
oil to the more remote areas of the engine, like the valve-train.

[Strawdawg]

no matter what the brand name Johnson is the ONLY good lifter still made

Amen!

First put a bit heavier weight (cold rating end) oil in the car and see if that works...otherwise a new lifter will probably fix it.

[Chryco Psycho]

Often a new lifter will not fix it , they just bleed down with the higher spring pressures

[Jamie]

engine was put together 2,000 miles ago. tapping issues came and went, sometimes even when warm. I switched cams to lower duration to lower eye burning at idle. new cam and lifters tap again at start up. I used to run 5-30  I recently tried 15-40 blend , same outcome. I know 20-50 was what all the old guys around the shows tell me they run but that seems like it would be difficult to pump on a cold fall morning. i feel that something may be related to the geometry with the magnum heads and the pushrod length , wish I just used la style heads . I used the pushrod lenght that mopar tech suggested.
 I just cant have a tap on a new engine , That sucks. Sounds as bad as header gasket leaks. 
Also this engine has not even seen 6,000 rpm so I feel the lifters have not been beat-on.
 
 

[Chryco Psycho]

I have seen 1/2 dozen other engine do exactly the same thing

[Jamie]

Just took car out for a cruise this morning, 70 degrees and low humidity " love this". I drove very easy for about 10 miles, no noises from lifters and went into a parts store for about 10 minutes. When I started the car back up  it sounded like 1 lifter was not pumped up and was very,very loud, oil pressure was at 50 psi. It took about 60 seconds for it to calm down!!!  Drove away and now it starts without any sounds.  This is embarrassing as hell. What The Hell?  I am not going to tear this down until winter hopefully, I just hate noises . Any more thoughts?

[RCCDrew]

Mine does the same, but I am old school with the heavy oil. I'm going to try a light synthetic.

[bahamacuda]

 Just a thought are your push tubes hollow or solid? Could oil bleed off quicker if tubes are hollow. I think 340 ones were solid. Not sure on other LA engines.