Engine Noise - Video Attached - Thoughts?

[1970DCH]

Hello! I have been trying to diagnose this noise before embarking on removing the lifters. Link to Video open to all recommendations or ideas before I start pulling lifters/ deeper disassembly. This is my first old school engine, so take it easy on me.

Symptoms:
1. First time I noticed this noise was taking a right turn off-ramp. Not left, only right. It would disappear at the same rate that it appeared once straightened out.
2. Occurred more easily the lower the oil was between the max/ min. (I experimented with different oil levels). I ran with extra quart and it only appeared on a very hard and sustained right turn.
3. It used to only occur when the engine was hot, but now seems to come at startup if oil is not above the max.


Engine knowns from prior owner:

-355 stroker kit
- mild cam
-Rhoads Lifters
- forged pistons
-was rebuilt 10+ years ago, not much use until this past year

I have done the following:

- fresh oil change 20-50 valvoline per prior owner recommendation. Also tried 10-30 just to see if it made difference.
- new plugs
- new wires
-Oil pressure 60+ cold, ~30 hot idle, does rise with increased RPM
- checked that the oil pickup screen is clean
- pulled both valve covers, looks clean no obvious loose parts, checked for loose arms. Visual of lifters looked unassuming.
- ran MMO thinking might be stuck lifter
- changed fuel pump thinking could be loose pump arm
- pulled spark plug one at time while running to rule out rod knock (if that is not fully conclusive, let me know)


Is this just simply a stuck lifter? Thanks in advance!

 

[toolmanmike]

The engine miss and ticking are related it sounds. Loosten the plug wires from the cap and carefully pull them off one by one to see which cylinder it is then diagnose from there. Pull the plug for that cylinder, do a compression test and pull the valve cover to check the rockers and pushrods. You may have a bad lifter or flat cam love.

 

[pnora]

For sure lifter noise. Should be easy to find with the cover off and running. Might be a cam lobe on its way out.

 

[QuickBpBp]

IMO it sounds like a collapsed lifter.... Try and use a PVC pipe from the valve cover to your ear and slowly move down the valve cover should help you find it...

 

[1970DCH]

The engine miss and ticking are related it sounds. Loosten the plug wires from the cap and carefully pull them off one by one to see which cylinder it is then diagnose from there. Pull the plug for that cylinder, do a compression test and pull the valve cover to check the rockers and pushrods. You may have a bad lifter or flat cam love.

You hear a miss? I pulled each while running and noticed no difference. I will try again.

 

[1970DCH]

For sure lifter noise. Should be easy to find with the cover off and running. Might be a cam lobe on its way out.

I have an auto stethoscope and could not hear any noticeable difference down the valve covers; sounds more like from center of the engine. Maybe points toward cam lob on its way out, but wouldn’t that be there all the time? This noise goes away intermittently.

 

[toolmanmike]

You hear a miss? I pulled each while running and noticed no difference. I will try again.

Definitely a miss. Same rhythm as the tick. You have at least 1 that isn't happy.

 

[pnora]

I have an auto stethoscope and could not hear any noticeable difference down the valve covers; sounds more like from center of the engine. Maybe points toward cam lob on its way out, but wouldn’t that be there all the time? This noise goes away intermittently.

Again with the valve cover off and running you will easily be able to find which rocker is making the noise.

 

[1967coronet]

Like the others said.... it's a lifter or rocker and yep it has a miss.
Buy a intake and valve cover gasket set.
It's time.

 

[eldubb440]

i'd say squirt each header tube with water, the cold one will lead you to the problem......... but I think if you just pop a valve cover it will be pretty obvious

 

[Geoff 2]

Depending on much bleed down is occurring from the faulty lifter, removing plug leads individually may make no noticeable difference.
Best method: remove one valve cover at a time. With leather gloves or rag in hand, get the engine idling & put your hand on each rocker for a few seconds. Noise will change with affected lifter.

 

[CHGRSE74]

Yes, sounds like lifter/valve train/cam noise. There is a miss but it does seem subtle. If you have a heat gun take temp readings of exh at manifold at different ranges. That may help to isolate which hole. Take covers off and check lift of the rockers, put pressure on rockers to see if there is a difference. Not sure of the correlation to the cornering thing though. I am kinda suspicious of a cam lobe, sounds similar to the old Chevy small blocks when their cam lobs wore off.

 

[1970DCH]

Yes, sounds like lifter/valve train/cam noise. There is a miss but it does seem subtle. If you have a heat gun take temp readings of exh at manifold at different ranges. That may help to isolate which hole. Take covers off and check lift of the rockers, put pressure on rockers to see if there is a difference. Not sure of the correlation to the cornering thing though. I am kinda suspicious of a cam lobe, sounds similar to the old Chevy small blocks when their cam lobs wore off.

Thank you. I’m planning to open it up including removing the intake manifold to see what’s going on and inspect the cam. One way or another, something is wrong. I’ll post back once I have a look. Thanks for the input!

 

[Some Car Guy]

Temp gun would help.

Might feel the engine through a big long screwdriver. Sometimes I can find a noise that changes with the pressure of the screwdriver or feel the spot where the sound is coming from.

 

[kaj750]

Hey, guys. I assume I have the same problem.
Starts making the noise after I drive the car for a bit, especially if I get the RPMs up. Start driving the car home to park it and it stops.
Car runs like absolute crap when it's happening. Assuming it's because I'm probably running on seven cylinders lol
At one point it got so bad at a stoplight that it started knocking and shaking all over the place and just about died on me. Talk about embarrassing lol.

Pushrod engines are new to me. Anything in particular should be looking for?
Confirming it's okay to let the engine idle with the valve cover off? I'm not going to throw oil all over the place?
And then I just use a gloved hand to feel each rocker until I find one that feels different?
Wouldn't suppose if I have a bad one, it's something that I can just purchase one of...?

 

[Some Car Guy]

You might find a problem by just pulling the valve cover. I once bought an engine in a car that had been parked and found a pushrod laying in the valley. It was shaped like a sharpened pencil on one end. The heads had been reconditioned and I think it was improper installation. Ran fine with a new set and I beat on that thing like Mike Tyson in the 80s. You might also feel each rocker and see if one is noticeably loose, also bar the engine over and check them at different points on the cam.