Engine Ticking After Head and Cam Install

[Eddie 70]

In my sons camaro, we did a head cam swap on his car and used the Thunder Racing Cam TR230. We put a new ported Z06 oil pump. New GM lifters, new Manley double roller timing chain, new 7.425 pushrods, new Patriot Gold springs and seals with Ti retainers. The motor runs quiet when cold but when it warms up it has a loud ticking noise and the oil pressure seems to be running around 25-30 psi. When cold the oil pressure is only around 30-35 psi.

Anyone have any ideas as to where we could check to correct this? This is supposed to be my sons daily driver but I do not want him driving it with it making this noise. Thanks for any help.

[INMY01TA]

Did you install that little blue O ring when you did the oil pump?

[Eddie 70]

Yeah the blue o-ring is back in there. Which almost makes me think I may have damaged it when I was installing it.

[jcook]

Sounds like a rocker arm is loose. What kind of oil weight are you using? Low viscosity synthetic will lower oil pressure.

[INMY01TA]

My car's a cam only car, about 613 lift. Ticks too. Sounds like a sewing machine. Faint ticking is normal, loud tapping is bad.

[Eddie 70]

The car is quiet and runs great. Just when it gets up to normal temp is when the noise starts. My son says it does not do it when the car is up and running at speed. Maybe he just cannot hear it when it is up to speed.

He and his buddy shot a few videos of it this afternoon so we could post these videos.






Definitely not the sewing machine noise which was to be expected. I am running an XE cam in my 70 vette and it makes a little more noise than a regular flat tappet cam.

[99BlackTransAm]

yeah that sounds kinda bad...

[Eddie 70]

Well we tore the front off the motor and got back down to the oil pump. I pulled the o-ring and took a few pics. It is not torn but it is out of shape. Hopefully this was the problem. Check these pics and tell me if you think this would cause this problem we are having.





The overall shape of the 0-ring is not circular anymore either. It is kind of squared on the edges.


Opinions please.

[Eddie 70]

Quick question for you guys. Is the O-ring supposed to set on top of the flange on the pick up tube or does it go down around the edge of the flange. I have it setting on top of the flange and the oil pan and timing chain cover is bolted back up. I just want to be sure before I go all the way back together.

[sic2001]

was it the o=ring? Im having the same issue after a cam install

[2-bowties&abird]

was it the o=ring? Im having the same issue after a cam install

yea mine sounds like that but only at times. i think i have a weak lifter. but you did the lifter swap too, what type lifters did you use you stated gm lifters but are they ls1 lifters or ls6 lifters or what?

[Eddie 70]

was it the o=ring? Im having the same issue after a cam install

Yes it was the o-ring. Somehow I got in there crooked and was deformed. I bought a new o-ring at a local dealer, $6.

Now the car runs 50 lbs cold and 40 lbs of oil pressure. No noise and that was a big relief to us. We just changed oil in it for the first time and he has put about 4k miles on the setup with no problems.

[Tracker9118]

In my sons camaro, we did a head cam swap on his car and used the Thunder Racing Cam TR230. We put a new ported Z06 oil pump. New GM lifters, new Manley double roller timing chain, new 7.425 pushrods, new Patriot Gold springs and seals with Ti retainers. The motor runs quiet when cold but when it warms up it has a loud ticking noise and the oil pressure seems to be running around 25-30 psi. When cold the oil pressure is only around 30-35 psi.

Anyone have any ideas as to where we could check to correct this? This is supposed to be my sons daily driver but I do not want him driving it with it making this noise. Thanks for any help.

BY THE WAY HOW MUCH OF A POWER ADDER.

[Eddie 70]

I have no idea. We have not dynoed the car before or after the swap. He likes it though.